PATSY RIPPY-BOND

CLASS OF 2000
 

Patsy Rippy-Bond was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started playing tennis at the age of 10.  She soon became one of the top tennis players in the State of Oklahoma and graduated from Shawnee High School.  She captured four State High School Singles Championships and was named Shawnee High School Athlete of the Year during her senior year.  On the National level, she captured five Doubles Championships and was runner-up in Singles each time. 

After earning a tennis scholarship to Odessa Junior College, in Odessa, Texas, she won the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) National Championships in her first year.  Patsy represented the U.S. in the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, winning a gold medal in doubles and a silver in singles.  She also represented the U.S. in the pre-Olympics Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, capturing a gold medal in doubles play.

Patsy continued to compete in various tournaments and held pro and assistant head pro positions with the El Paso Tennis Club of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Canyon Racquet Club, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from the University of Texas-El Paso with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.  She has three children: Chris, Rebecca and Karen.  She has been inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Association Hall of Fame.  Patsy passed away in 2019.