Who Was CLYDE ROGERS?

Clyde Rogers, an avid tennis player, came to Denver from Chicago. He was known for running Denver's first well-organized tennis tournaments in the public parks. He ran the tournaments at Washington Park until about 1985. 

The story goes that if you arrived at the tournament desk less than 15 minutes before your scheduled match, he would tap you on the fingers for being late.

Being the former tournament director of the then named Memorial Day Washington Park tournament, the club chose to honor Clyde for his dedication and service to the community by renaming the tournament after him.

Who Was Chet Niemeyer?

After playing tennis in high school, Chet Niemeyer perfected his game in 1936 when he traveled to Honduras and played on courts dug from the natural Honduran clay. 

Chet, who traveled the world to play tennis, came to Denver in 1958 and spent his last years at Washington Park. With a passion and skill for teaching the Continental grip to any willing listener, he soon became an afternoon fixture at the Washington Park courts. He always wore white and carried his modified racket with him. 

Late in the 1990s, Chet concluded his tennis playing but remained a fixture at the tennis courts.