JOE PITTS CLASS OF 2008
Joe H. Pitts was born in 1927 in Oklahoma City. He played all the common sports except tennis while growing up. He excelled at baseball and basketball at Classen High School. After graduating from high school, he played basketball for Henry "Hank" Iba at Oklahoma A & M College. He was on the 1946 team that won the NCAA National Championship. Joe began playing tennis at age 45 and three years later in 1978 he moved back to Tulsa. He starting getting serious about tennis and began playing Oklahoma tournaments. Fifteen years later he finished the "young man's" stuff in his life, marriage, kids, vacations, etc., and found a good doubles partner in Dick Land. This started more serious tennis. In the last 18 years, Joe has played in the:
Since reaching the age of 70, Joe's tournament play on the National circuit has been:
During this time period, Joe played well enough to earn the following USTA National Rankings:
Tennis was important, but the most important thing in Joe's life is his family. Currently living in Tulsa, he and Margaret have been married 58 years. He has two daughters: Holly (whom they lost in 2006) and Becky and two grandchildren. |