Just as any kid growing up, she had liked to participate in all kinds of sports. The 1st being Ballet, at age 4. Of course, that proved to be a little too slow and tedious. Then came piano,at age 8, which proved to be even more slow and tedious. Then there was horsebackriding, at age 10, which was really great fun, but where are you going to keep a horse in the city? Then there was the little league baseball team, at age 11, headed by her father, who let her play during practices, (thanks Dad), but unfortunately, the league was for boys only. (totally unfair).. Then there was gymnastics, also at age 11, which not only was a great outlet, but it was tons of fun to do flips down the hall, and drive her parents crazy. Then one fatefull summer at age 12, her mother asked her if she wanted to take tennis lessons at the park and recreation. That summer changed her life. Beverly Parks and Recreation, was a public facility with 12 courts. Tennis lessons were 10 lessons for $2.00. (Wow has inflation hit or what). Her very 1st instructor was Dick Johnson. Not only was Dick high energy, he made tennis so much fun, that she lived for that class. He was a great tease (and still is). The 2 things that really stuck out in her mind, was Dick pulling her pigtails, and playing the game ?Queen of the court? (which is still used today). Dick was not only a great motivater, he ended up being a lifetime friend, and quite instrumental in her career later on. That summer she won her 1st tournament, and received the most improved player, out of hundreds of kids. She would hit hundreds of balls against the house every day. And of course, that also meant hundreds of broken windows, but she knew then, that she wanted to be a pro. Later that same year, she captured the attention of Sissy Kelly. Sissy was one of the best female players of the Southwest. She was also the Wightman Cup Junior Tennis Coach. Sissy invited Debbie to workout at the prestigious Tennis Club of Albuquerque. This was quite a shock, because this was serious business. It was during that time, that Debbie was transformed from a recreational player, to a serious player, and then later into a ranked player. This is where she learned how to compete, and learned about training and dicipline. At this time, she was still doing gymnastics, and tennis. Life seemed perfect. However, fate stepped in at age 14, when she fell doing a cartwheel dismount off the balance beam, and tore her ACL in her right knee. That accident resulted in knee surgery, her sophmore year, and again her junior year. Sissy however never gave up on her, and after being out almost 2 years, she put in extra time before school and after, and even helped her out with a babysitting job. During her senior year, the school board changed one of the rulings for non-contact sports, allowing girls for the 1st time to compete on a boys team if they were good enough to make the team. With Sissy's help, she was the #2 singles player on the boys team. She won every school match. And lost in the semi-finals of district. Sissy then helped her obtain a full tennis scholarship to Amarillo Junior College. After one year , she decided college was not for her. She went back to Albuquereque, and called her old friend Dick Johnson,who was now running the only Indoor Tennis Facility. He gave her a job at the club. Again life seemed perfect. But fate would step in again. Dick had become friends, with world famous tennis great Roy Emerson.. Emerson had offered Dick a job in Southern California. Soon Dick and his wife Marcie would be leaving for California. After Dick and Marcie left, the future of the Indoor Tennis Club was not certain. Dick and Marcie invited Debbie to come out to California, for a visit. This trip would later forever change her life. Dick worked for the 2 tennis legends, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. Together they ran the Laver-Emerson Tennis Holidays. Tennis had never been bigger. The boom had just hit, and Tennis Camps, were the thing to do. You hadn't lived until you had gone to Tennis Camp. And you really had never lived, if you hadn't attended one of the Laver-Emerson Tennis Holidays. Not only were Rod and Roy tennis legends, their camps were famous, and legendary. Movie stars, television personalities, you name it, anyone who liked to have a good time, or liked tennis attended. It was at that time, that Debbie met Roy Emerson, and all the other pros, that worked for him. She never realized that 2 weeks later she would be working for him in New Hamshire. Joining the staff, and being the youngest one, and only 1 of 2 girls, Debbie thought she had just died and gone to heaven. Not only was she going to get a chance to travel, but she was working with high energy positive people, who really knew the game, and also knew how to have a good time. This is where she learned how to teach, be a team player, socialize, and basically grow up. That wonderful life lasted for 3 years. Not only did this opportunity give her a career, with great credentials, she made lifetime friends whom she still keeps in contact with. After Laver-Emerson ended, she again called up her old friends Dick and Marcie Johnson, who were now living and running a Tennis Club in Northern California. Dick offered her a job, as his Assistant Tennis Pro. She moved out to California, and began working as a pro. She however was serious about playing the tour. With Dick's help, he set up several sponsors, for her to play the tour. She played several tournaments, but realized it was not the life she wanted. She resumed her teaching, and when the club looked like it might be sold, Dick and Marcie moved back to Albuquerque, and Debbie moved to Houston. It didn't take long to get into the swing of things in Houston, as several of the old Laver-Emerson pros had relocated there. Within a year, she was offered a job at Lakeside Country Club,working for Ken McAllister, where she stayed almost 10 years. Having played Texas Tournaments, and French Tournaments, she decided that she wanted to go back on the tour. A little older, and wiser, she felt that the time was right. She was world ranked for 8 years, and played almost all of Europe, Mexico, and South America, winning 2 big tournaments in Africa. She was now working at Westside Tennis Club, and playing every opportunity that she could. She then left Westside to play team tennis for Germany. When she came back in 94, she started her own Tennis Academy for juniors, and has done that ever since. She has worked with kids, on all levels, but now mostly enjoys working with the recreational player. Her lessons and camps are mainly a combination of working together, while having a good time. She tries to keep things simple, by stressing a short backswing, and good footwork. None of this would be possible, without the 4 key people who helped her get to where she is today. Thanks to Dick Johnson, who made tennis a blast, and who is now currently the USPTA president of the Southwest division. Sissy Kelly, who never gave up on helping kids, is now retired from tennis, but was inducted into the Southwest Tennis Hall of Fame. Roy Emerson, who was also inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame, kickstarted many pros careers, and who will probably never retire, he currently runs his own Tennis Camps in Switzerland, and finally Ken McAllister, who has always been a great pilar of strength, to all the pros in Texas. He currently is the Executive Director of the Texas Tennis Division.
