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Dick Hatfield has quite
a varied career background. He taught high school physics; he learned to
play tennis so he could coach the high school team; he went into school
administration; he became a private tennis instructor, turned club pro,
turned club owner; he worked in a Christmas store on Hilton Head which led
to a job in sales, in, of all things, silk flowers.
Eventually Dick moved to Augusta to be near a certain special lady, Wanda,
who became his wife. Wanda was actually a customer of his when he was in
sales. Dick has served as the Augusta State College men’s and women’s
tennis coach and, since 1990, the Manager at Newman Tennis Center. His
current title is Tennis Program Supervisor for the Augusta Recreation and
Parks Department. He’s based out of Newman. He is also your Tournament
Director this weekend.
“I have been led to where I am,” said Dick, when talking about the course
of his life’s journey so far. “I’ve never said to myself, ‘Why am I
here?’”
Back in 1990 Newman Tennis Center was host to only three tournaments per
year. Under Dick’s leadership that number has grown to 13. Dick built two
of these tournaments from scratch and rebuilt three which were in various
states of disrepair.
From high school physics teacher to rebuilding tennis tournaments? How did
that path emerge? “When I was a kid I was pretty lazy,” Dick admits. “I
didn’t feel that ultimate responsibility for anything.”
Dick took me on a little trip back down that path to help me understand all
that’s brought him to where he is today. He told me he believes that before
he worked for himself as an independent tennis instructor, club owner and
salesman he didn’t feel that pressure to really make things happen. That
pressure to make the money, to buy the gas, to get to work, to make the
money – to survive.
Dick explained that oftentimes responsibility just isn’t given you. And
that unless you seek it out, you might never really get any at all. With
that lacking in your life, you’ll never really grow. “You have to step
outside of yourself,” Dick said, “and accept responsibility. Seek it out.”
Going out on his own and making his own way was a life changing experience
for Dick. He was no longer that lazy kid. This is certainly evidenced
today by all the work he does for tennis here in Augusta, for the Rec. and
Parks department here in Augusta, and for this Mixed State League
Championships.
The work and preparation for this tournament alone started long before the
captain’s meeting Thursday night. And the hours put in over the course of
this four-day tournament, and the others like it, are more than I care to
count. It tires me out just thinking about it. But it’s work Dick happily
takes on. You bet he’s worn out, but he describes the feeling as a
“pleasant exhaustion.”
When I asked why he does all this he replied, “Because I like to
build things.” He’s certainly built an immense amount here since 1990.
When I asked how he does it he immediately gave credit to his team of
staff and volunteers. “I’ve got great people, great community support and
great facilities.”
Dick says he gets a deep satisfaction from running successful tournaments
like this one. How does he gauge success? There might not be many outright
thank yous, but there also aren’t many complaints. And no complaints, to
Dick, equals a thank you, which equals success.
Dick – if you want to read on a bit here there are a couple of ladies who do
want to pass along their thanks. Sheila Martin, from the West Georgia 6.0
senior team, told me today, “They do an excellent job serving so many people
here at this tournament. The volunteers and staff are awesome. They do
everything they can to really make sure you have a good day.”
Rome’s Senior 6.0 team captain Cathy Klingensmith said, “These people do
such a great job. They have shown, again, what southern hospitality is
really all about.”
I
think we’d all like to say: For a great tournament, for a great weekend,
and for everything you do for tennis Dick – a great big “No Complaints
Here!”
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