JOURNAL STAFF
The Harrison family and Jerry Montgomery are not only intertwined with the vibrant local tennis community, they are acclaimed statewide – and beyond – for their impact on the sport.
That will be illustrated Friday evening in Baton Rouge at the Bocage Racquet Club with their inductions in the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Louisiana Tennis Association administers the annual ceremony spotlighting the state’s elite figures in the sport.
Montgomery is the former prominent tennis pro at Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club, and the retired head tennis coach at Ole Miss.
The Harrison family members to be honored with enshrinement are Vikki Harrison Kivell, Valerie Harrison Woolbert, Mark Harrison, Pattie Harrison Adams and Pat Harrison, all Shreveporters.
Montgomery has been involved with tennis for over 60 years as a player, coach and volunteer. As a coach, his players have attained No. 1 rankings in Louisiana, the South region, the U.S. and have broken into the top 60 in world rankings.
At Ole Miss, Montgomery was a two-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year (1993, 1999) and is in the school’s athletic hall of fame. He continues as a volunteer for USTA Louisiana “at many levels,” said the organization’s press release.
He has been an ambassador for the game locally and has impacted literally thousands of players from the beginner and recreational levels to helping develop players into champions in the high school, college and pro ranks along with USTA amateur competitions.
The Harrisons are considered Louisiana tennis royalty. Each of the five siblings, nurtured by their iconic father Jimmy Harrison, achieved top junior status, some with national rankings, and all played on the collegiate level. They all became coaches, and have made major impact at the recreational, high school, college and even professional levels.
Players coached by the Harrisons have produced three Grand Slam champions, four Grand Slam runners-up and two NCAA singles champions. A former conference champion in singles and doubles at Oklahoma State, Pat Harrison may be best known for developing his son Ryan, a successful current player on the ATP Tour.
Valerie Harrison starred at Centenary, where she was an NAIA runner-up and earned All-American while playing for her father.
The Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame began in 1984 and has 50 inductees, including outstanding players, coaches and families who have made significant accomplishments in the game of tennis in Louisiana.