NewsAthleticsTennis
Smith ('71) named USTA executive director and COO
Oct 11, 2007 9:18 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
The United States Tennis Association has announced that Rome native and former Darlington School trustee Gordon Smith ('71) has been named executive director and chief operating officer. In his new position, Smith will lead the USTA’s effort to accomplish its mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis and oversee the operations of the USTA and the functioning of the USTA’s national office.
Smith, the son of Oscar and Suzanne Smith of Rome, went on to serve as captain of the University of Georgia tennis team after graduating from Darlington in 1971. "Gordon’s long-standing commitment to the sport, combined with business acumen and a keen understanding of the USTA’s organization and structure, make him the perfect person to lead the USTA," said Jane Brown Grimes, USTA chairman of the board and president.
"I’ve been an avid fan and active participant in the sport of tennis for most of my life,” said Smith. “It is therefore a great honor to be chosen as executive director and chief operating officer of the national governing body for the sport. These are very exciting times for tennis, and I look forward to leading the organization and our incredibly committed volunteers in creating more effective and new ways to attract people to the sport and make tennis even more accessible and inclusive for players and potential players of all backgrounds, ages and abilities."
Smith will assume the senior staff position at the USTA effective Nov. 1, upon the retirement of current USTA executive director and chief operating officer, D. Lee Hamilton. "As I step into this new role at the USTA, I am grateful to Lee Hamilton, who has done such a remarkable job leading us these past five years” said Smith. “He leaves the association well-positioned to fulfill its mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis."
Smith has long been connected to tennis as both a player and a volunteer. He played competitively as a junior in Rome and captained a University of Georgia team that swept four straight Southeastern Conference titles from 1971 through 1975. He was the SEC doubles champion in 1975.
Smith has been an active member of the USTA Southern Section since 1992, most recently serving as its president. He also has served on the boards of the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation, Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and the Georgia Tennis Foundation. He began serving a second consecutive term as vice president of the USTA in January 2007, previously serving as a director at large.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and his Juris Doctorate from Georgia. Following law school, he clerked with the federal judiciary before joining the Atlanta-based international law firm of King and Spalding, where he was a senior partner in the 800-lawyer firm. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America for many years.
In addition to Smith's previous service on Darlington's Board of Trustees, he is also a former class agent and member of the Board of Visitors, as well as a current member of the J.J. Darlington Society.
Smith, the son of Oscar and Suzanne Smith of Rome, went on to serve as captain of the University of Georgia tennis team after graduating from Darlington in 1971. "Gordon’s long-standing commitment to the sport, combined with business acumen and a keen understanding of the USTA’s organization and structure, make him the perfect person to lead the USTA," said Jane Brown Grimes, USTA chairman of the board and president.
"I’ve been an avid fan and active participant in the sport of tennis for most of my life,” said Smith. “It is therefore a great honor to be chosen as executive director and chief operating officer of the national governing body for the sport. These are very exciting times for tennis, and I look forward to leading the organization and our incredibly committed volunteers in creating more effective and new ways to attract people to the sport and make tennis even more accessible and inclusive for players and potential players of all backgrounds, ages and abilities."
Smith will assume the senior staff position at the USTA effective Nov. 1, upon the retirement of current USTA executive director and chief operating officer, D. Lee Hamilton. "As I step into this new role at the USTA, I am grateful to Lee Hamilton, who has done such a remarkable job leading us these past five years” said Smith. “He leaves the association well-positioned to fulfill its mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis."
Smith has long been connected to tennis as both a player and a volunteer. He played competitively as a junior in Rome and captained a University of Georgia team that swept four straight Southeastern Conference titles from 1971 through 1975. He was the SEC doubles champion in 1975.
Smith has been an active member of the USTA Southern Section since 1992, most recently serving as its president. He also has served on the boards of the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation, Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and the Georgia Tennis Foundation. He began serving a second consecutive term as vice president of the USTA in January 2007, previously serving as a director at large.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and his Juris Doctorate from Georgia. Following law school, he clerked with the federal judiciary before joining the Atlanta-based international law firm of King and Spalding, where he was a senior partner in the 800-lawyer firm. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America for many years.
In addition to Smith's previous service on Darlington's Board of Trustees, he is also a former class agent and member of the Board of Visitors, as well as a current member of the J.J. Darlington Society.
