Dan Smith, Left, author of John Powless: A Life Well Played. John has had a long history related to Badger athletics, beyond being a world-class senior tennis player himself. Hecoached Badger tennis and basketball and was a color commentator on it after he retired from coaching.
He got his start at the Frog Island Tennis Club. He was state high school tennis champ in Illinois in 1950-52, played at the US Open for the first time at age 18. He was a college tennis All-American at Murray State.
Over the years, he’s been ranked #1 in every five-year age category from 35 on up. He’s doubled with George HW Bush, played Santa with Lady Diana as Mrs. Santa and enjoyed a friendship with Bobby Knight and the late Al McGuire. Colorful guy, colorful speaker.
Next Meeting’s Speaker: Madison Newspaper Reporter Barry Adams on Traveling the State