How ETEF Began
Jerry Edmonds is the namesake of ETEF. Jerry was born in Beckley West Virginia. He was a top baseball player in W. Va., and played Triple A baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system in 1967 and 1968 when he moved to Henderson, NC.,
Jerry started to play tennis when his wife, Joan, enrolled in a recreational course. He picked up tennis quickly and won local tournaments. He went to Rod Laver and Dennis Van Dermeer to learn more about tennis. Jerry also learned from USPTR instructors and recommended students to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.
In 2001 Jerry traveled to Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney Australia to coach 48 junior tennis players from across the United States. Jerry developed many skills to help kids land scholarships. At least 3,000 adults, teenagers and children have become alumni under his tutelege and many participated in workshops and clinics held in connection with the Vance County Recreation Department and Oxford, NC Recreation Department.
Jerry Edmonds did the majority of teaching tennis on his home tennis court in Henderson, NC. The court exists today and has evolved into the primary location for the Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation.
The ETEF logo is a profile of Jerry and his wife Joan. Jerry passed in 2016. Joan passed in 2013. ETEF was developed in their honor. You can honor them and aspiring young tennis players with your contributions by clicking here.