Turpin Time

Tennis Forever - John Powless

Posted by: Jim Turpin

Sunday, May 24, 2009 11:44 AM

     John Powless won the state high school tennis championship while a senior at Flora High School.   Not many downstaters do that.   Today, some 58 years later, Powelss is ranked number one in the world in his age group. 

     John and his father, Cecil Powless, won the National Father-Son championship multiple times.  Brother Bob was an outstanding player at Purdue.   John went from Flora to Michigan, then to Murray State where he started their tennis program.

     Later, John opened his own racquet club in Madison, Wisconsin.  For several years he was the head basketball coach at U-W while continuing to compete in tennis tournaments worldwide.

     What's new with the big guy?  Well, John has regained his number one worldwide ranking for players over 75 and he has done so with two artificial knees!!

     He recently won the Australia Open Senior Championship plus the title in a big tournament in Argentina.   At the close of 2008 he won a Super Seniors tournament in Turkey and the USTA 75-80 Grass Court Championship in New Jersey.

     Powless and his doubles partner, Richard Doss of Rancho Mirage, California, won the national hard court, clay, grass, and indoor championships.

     Powless had his first knee replacement three years ago and his second one two years ago. Powless said he did 10 hours of re-hab daily after each of the operations so he could just "get back on the court as quickly as possible."

     He's traveling the world and winning everywhere.  His only worry is how long the new knees will hold up.

     At the Australian Open next year John will be honored as the player who has won the most titles in that tournament's history.   Presumably, Craig Tiley will make the presentation.

     For the truly committed, tennis is forever.

     In the late 1940's and early 1950's, Powless and I hooked up in some North Egypt Conference basketball games - he at Flora, and me at Olney. 

     During that time John and his Dad played tennis on a home-made court in their back yard.  Obviously, he has never stopped.

     A salute to my long time friend.  Keep it up,  young man.

 

    

    

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