Northwest suburbs' 'Mr. Tennis' dies at 86
Life story
Mel Timmons ~ 1929-2015
By Eileen O. Daday
Daily Herald correspondent
One of the biggest promoters of tennis in the Northwest suburbs has died.
Mel Timmons, who for years wrote a tennis column in the Daily Herald, and also ran the Paddock Tennis Tournament for 26 years, passed away Dec. 20. The former Hoffman Estates resident, most recently of Arlington Heights, was 86.
"I always called him Mr. Tennis, because he did so much for the sport," says Bob Frisk, former assistant sports/managing editor for the Daily Herald.
Timmons worked with Bob Paddock Sr., the former executive vice president and vice chairman of Paddock Publications, and a tennis enthusiast himself, to develop the tournament.
"It was open to all age groups," says Bob Paddock Jr., current vice chairman of the Daily Herald. "The tourney promoted the healthy fun of tennis competition as well as helping build relationships with our readers."
Frisk said Timmons would travel to some of tennis' Grand Slam events, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and mingle with its stars.
"They all respected him," Frisk adds.
Timmons brought his experience at national tournaments back to his column, giving readers an inside look at the tennis circuit and its players, as well as information about local tournaments and high school results.
"Mel was a frequent visitor to the IHSA state girls and boys tennis tournaments," Frisk said. "He was always giving a helping hand at any local tennis tournament because he had such a true passion for the sport. You knew the tennis tournament was a big deal if Mel Timmons showed up."
Others in the tennis community agreed, crediting Timmons with helping to promote their facilities and tennis tournaments, including the Mount Prospect Tennis Club and Heritage Racquet Club in Arlington Heights, to name a few.
"He was very much in the tennis scene when the Arlington Heights Park District purchased Heritage," said manager Chris Nisbet, "and I know our superintendent of recreation worked with Mel to get the word out."
Timmons grew up on the South Side of Chicago, playing in tennis tournaments organized by the Chicago Park District. He ultimately played No. 1 singles at Parker High School as well as at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and captained both teams.
As an adult, Timmons joined the Chicago District Tennis Association, eventually serving on its board of directors and ultimately president in 1991. The Des Plaines-based organization organizes tennis opportunities for junior and adult players at all levels.
Its mission is to "promote, develop and service the game of tennis," which Timmons lived out, personally and professionally. He helped start the Woodfield Racquet Club in Schaumburg in the late 1970s, before the Schaumburg Park District bought it in the 1990s. Later he was vice president and general manager of the Pheasant Run Racquet Club in St. Charles.
In 2009, Timmons was inducted into the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame, in a banquet at the Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont. The crowd, appreciative of his lifetime of support, gave him a standing ovation.
It was one of many awards he garnered, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Tennis Patrons in 1989. In 1987 he received the Fred Burns Award from the Western Tennis Association (Midwest), which recognizes a journalist or newspaper which has contributed the most toward promoting tennis on the local, district or section level.
Timmons is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan, and his children Kim (Hank) Taft, Scott (Miriam) Timmons and Jason (Kalina) Timmons, as well as one grandson.
Services have been held.