Headington Family

THE HEADINGTON FAMILY

CLASS OF 2022

People who have played tennis in Oklahoma during the last five decades will know how important the Headington Family has been to Oklahoma tennis. Not only has each member of this family had a distinguished career in tennis and made tremendous contributions to tennis in this state, but the family has collectively given back so much to Oklahoma tennis. Their contributions have advanced the sport in this state and will undoubtedly do so for many years. From building a state-of-the-art athletic/student dormitory and indoor tennis facility at OU, to building tennis courts at LaFortune Park, to funding a matching grant to the Oklahoma Tennis Foundation which will provide hours on the court in clinics with kids who would not otherwise have had exposure to tennis, and providing grants to promote tennis across the state, the Headington family exhibits a continuing support for Oklahoma tennis.

Tim Headington: was a four-year letterman at the University of Oklahoma from 1968-72. During this time, the team won the Big 8 Championship. After college Tim was the Oklahoma Closed Men’s Doubles Champion with Glen Mullins. They beat Doug Boswell and Pat Richie for a big upset. Tim’s philanthropy has impacted tennis across the state. Not only did he donate the Headington Family Tennis Center at OU, but he donated Headington Hall, a dormitory at OU for athletes and students, and has given generously to First Serve OKC.

Greg Headington: is Tim’s younger brother. He was a letterman at the rival school, Oklahoma State University, for three years. In high school, he led the Cassady High School varsity tennis team for four years.

Jeanette (Headington) Kern: the favorite and much younger sister of Tim and Greg and mom of David, Chris, and Julie. She played at not only two major universities, but three. She starred at SMU, OU (where she was the Big 8 Champion in 1975), and TU, (where she served as the Captain and was the only senior, non-scholarship player). Some individual career highlights for Jeanette include USTA 5.0 National Champion (with Connie Seay) in 1991, Challenge Cup Husband-Wife National Champion, WTT Mixed-Doubles Finalist for several years, Southern Hills team (Forest Hills and Palm Springs), and Sr Women’s 4.5 USTA Finalist. Her tennis legacy has continued through her philanthropy. Notably, she donated funds for a tennis court at LaFortune Park and contributed the Matching Grant to the Oklahoma Tennis Foundation.

David Martin: The tennis career of David Martin is well known as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014. Among some of his notable achievements in tennis, he competed in 13 Grand Slam Tournaments, reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2007; was a 5-time ATP Tour doubles finalist; an All-American member of the Stanford Tennis team in singles and doubles; and a collegiate national team champion in 2000. Through his professional career he has added tremendously to the illustrative tennis credentials of this family.

Christopher Martin: Jeannette’s middle child, had many achievements as a junior. Among them he ended 1996 ranked #1 in Boys 14 singles with the National Clay Court Singles Champion, National Hard Court Singles finalist, and a #1 ranking in the state of Oklahoma. A good year for Chris, because he also ended the year ranked #1 in Boys 14 doubles with partner Andy Roddick. He continued his winning streak through 16s and 18s with high national rankings and multiple ITF junior circuit championships in singles and doubles. Chris was a member of the University of Illinois tennis team from 2001-2005. In 2003 his singles win against Vanderbilt clinched the NCAA National Championship. He was named to the 2003 NCAA All-Tournament Team, a member of the 2003 and 2004 USTA/ITA National Division I Men’s Indoors Championship Team, a member of the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Championship Teams, and a 2003, 2004, 2005 Academic All-American. Among his many career wins, Chris has wins over Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, John Isner (doubles), and Guillermo Coria.

Dr. Julie (Martin) Shelley: played on the varsity team at Vanderbilt University. Her junior tennis career in Oklahoma was impressive, with at top ranking in the state in 12’s, a top 25 ranking in the U.S. in 14s, and a top 100 ranking in the U.S. in 18s. She also played at Holland Hall High School, leading them to a SPC championship her sophomore year. An interesting fact about Julie is that when she was in 6th grade she was the youngest player ever on the Ransom Everglades ( Coconut Grove, FL) or any Florida team which won Florida State School Championships. (She actually played singles and doubles and won a match which mattered! They beat Bolliteri and Saddlebrook and played on the same team as David and Christopher Martin)! Julie further showed her love for the sport by donating funds for a tennis court at LaFortune Park and the rehabilitation of the OKC Tennis Center.