Alan Hicks

From Wikitia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Alan Robert Hicks OAM (13 September 1932 – 24 September 2019) was an Australian tennis executive and former amateur tennis player. He was the President of Tennis West, and a Councillor of Tennis Australia from 1990 to 1996.[1][2] He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Tennis Australia from 1994 to 1997.[2]

Among numerous honours for service to tennis, Hicks was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 1997 Australia Day Honours.[3]

Playing Career

Hicks was a left-handed player.[1] He was one of the leading male junior tennis players in Western Australia, ranked No. 1 in 1950, No. 2 in 1951.[1] He played for Western Australia in the 1950 and 1951 Linton Cup competitions.[1][4][5][6]

He competed in the 1952 Australian Championships – Men's singles, his first of two Grand Slam singles tournament appearances. He received a bye in the first round, and was defeated 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 in the second round by George Worthington.[7]. He also competed in the 1952 Australian Championships – Men's doubles, partnering Noel Pearse; the pair were defeated 6–2, 6–4, 6–1 by Ian Ayre and Brian Strohfeldt.[8]

Hicks met Ken Rosewall in the first round of the 1953 Western Australia Championships, and was defeated 6–2, 8–6, 6–4.[4][9]

Hicks was a member of the 1953/54 and 1954/55 Kings Park 'A' Grade State League championship teams.[1] He won the 1956 City of Perth Championships Men's Singles competition, defeating Leslie Laurence (Les) Grafton 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 in the final.[10] He also won the CBH Group Country Championships Men's Singles competitions in 1958 and 1959.[11]

Hicks competed in the 1961 Australian Championships – Men's singles. He was defeated 6–1, 6–1, 6–2 in the first round by the eventual champion, Roy Emerson.[12] He also competed in the 1961 Australian Championships – Men's doubles, partnering Owen French. They received a bye in the first round, and were defeated 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 by John Fraser and Doug Reid.[13][14]

Tennis Leadership

Alongside his wife, Hicks was a founding member of the Corinthian Park Tennis Club in Shelley, Western Australia.[15]

He was President of Tennis West,[16] and a Councillor of Tennis Australia from 1990 to 1996, and a member of the Board of Directors of Tennis Australia from 1994 to 1997.[2] He was at various times the Chairman of the Tennis West State Selection panel,[17] Chairman of the Tennis West Finance Committee, founding Chairman of the McDonald's Junior Tennis Australia, Trustee of the State Players Development Trust, and an inaugural member of the West Australian Veterans Club.[1]

He was a member of the WA State Tennis Centre Working Committee, and was instrumental to its negotiations with the Government of Western Australia and the Australian Government. These negotiations culminated in the development of the State Tennis Centre at Burswood, Western Australia.[1] He was also involved in the establishment of the Hopman Cup.[15]

Awards and Honours

Beyond many tennis club-level recognitions, he received the following awards:

  • 1995 – May Campbell Service to Sport Award [18]
  • 1996 – Life Member Tennis West [19]
  • 1996 – West Australian of the Year (Sport) [20]
  • 1997 – Medal of the Order of Australia, "for service to tennis as a former state junior champion and as an executive member of club and state tennis organisations for 40 years." [3]
  • 2000 – Australian Sports Medal, citation as "former councillor Tennis Australia. Long term service to tennis" [21]
  • 2001 – Centenary Medal, "for service to tennis." [22]
  • 2002 – City of Canning Community Citizen of the Year [15]

Personal life

Alan was born on 13 September 1933 in Kalgoorlie.[15] He was married to Mary Hicks, another amateur grand slam tennis player. [23]

He died on 24 September 2019 at the RAAF Association of Western Australia's Air Force Memorial Estate in Bull Creek, Western Australia.[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Vale Alan Hicks OAM – Life Member and Former Tennis West President". Tennis West. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Tennis Australia Annual Report 2022-2023" (PDF). Tennis Australia. 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mr Alan Robert Hicks, Medal of the Order of Australia". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "State Tennis Titles". The Kalgoorlie Miner. Kalgoorlie, WA: National Library of Australia. 1 April 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 15 April 2026 – via Trove.
  5. ↑ "Speculation on the Shield Tennis Matches". Subiaco Weekly Gazette. Subiaco, WA: National Library of Australia. 4 December 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 15 April 2026 – via Trove.
  6. ↑ "New Players in State Tennis team". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 21 November 1950. p. 16. Retrieved 15 April 2026 – via Trove.
  7. ↑ Alan Hicks Player Activity ATP Tour. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "1952 Australian Championships – Men's Doubles". Australian Open. Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Alan Robert Hicks". Tennisarchives.com. Tennisarchives. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "City of Perth 1956". Tennisarchives. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "CBH Country Championships Celebrates 100 Years – Post War to 1968". Tennis West. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Alan Hicks Player Activity ATP Tour. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "1961 Australian Championships – Men's Doubles". Australian Open. Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Men Doubles Tennis Australian Championship 1961". todor66.com. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 "50 Year History" (PDF). Corinthian Park Tennis Club. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Review of timing of grants for sports facilities" (Press release). Government of Western Australia. 6 March 1994. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Science enters tennis training". The Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT: National Library of Australia. 21 June 1973. p. 22. Retrieved 15 August 2026 – via Trove.
  18. ↑ "Sports West Awards, Past Winners, Service to Sport". Sports West. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Tennis West Life Members". Tennis West. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Western Australian of the Year Hall of Fame". Celebrate WA. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "Mr Alan Robert Hicks, Sports Medal". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "Mr Alan Robert Hicks, Centenary Medal". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Mary Hicks - Grand Slam Statistics". DB4Tennis. Retrieved 15 April 2026.

External links

Add External links

This article "Alan Hicks" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.

Retrieved from "https://wikitia.com/index.php?title=Alan_Hicks&oldid=232722"