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Fenton's Court Officially Dedicated

A crowd of regulars gathered on July 21 to honor Bob Fenton in an official renaming of court 9 to Fenton's Court. Key speaker at the sign-hanging ceremony was Gregory Barfield, Chief of Staff for councilwoman Cynthia Sterling. Also speaking were USTA Rep, Marian Thomson and Tennis Director, John Gruberg. In a heartfelt speech, Barfield pledged support for future improvements at the tennis center. The event was highlighted when Bob Fenton's wife, Argie, stood to receive an award plaque honoring her years of support for husband Bob. The plaque was inscribed with the words, She Played Her Half Of The Court.

Mayor Autry Visits Tennis Center
Ice Rink Planned Nearby

On the afternoon of January 29, Mayor Alan Autry showed up at the Roeding Park Tennis Center to have a look around. Accompanying Autry were advisor Peter Weber, Parks & Rec Director Randall Cooper, and Parks Manager Forrest Dean. "I'm impressed," the Mayor said. "I must confess, I've never been here before. This is really something." Autry spoke enthusiastically about the potential for tournaments and organized activities at the site.

The four men examined the troublesome west edge of the Tennis Center, where there was an encampment of homeless people across the street. Somewhat incognito, the Mayor wore a baseball cap and a black New York City Fire Department jacket. But Alan Autry is a very big man, with a powerful presence. A couple of the homeless guys recognized him immediately and waved.

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The Mayor walked over, inviting the men to approach.

In a moment, he was giving them encouraging advice, and then with his head bowed, he lead them in a solemn prayer that even had the Parks Director and the Parks Manager standing by with heads bowed respectfully. When the two homeless guys went back to their little camp across the street, they walked taller, their spirits obviously uplifted.

Parks Director Cooper then showed the Mayor a wide expanse of grass just south of the tennis center that would do well for an ice rink the City is planning. The site is adjacent to the wall of the freeway, and though the noise of rushing cars is constant, once inside the ice rink, those sounds would disappear. Especially on a hot summer day!

Before they left the park, Mayor Autry and Director Cooper pledged their enthusiastic support for the Tennis Center.

City Council To Name Fenton's Court June 5

Fresno City Council will be taking a close look at the sign above to decide if it should be hung on the court near the tennis shack, where Bob Fenton spent much of the last 25 years giving free and low-cost tennis lessons at Roeding Park. Over the years, Fenton's students have become an integral part of the greater Fresno tennis community. Many youngsters he developed went on to play on high school and college teams; some even ended up with careers as club pros. But whether they stayed with tennis or not, all benefited from Bob Fenton's guidance, both on and off the court.

Less nimble now at eighty-five years old, Bob does not get to the courts as often as he'd like, but his presence is still felt. For the last two decades that court near the tennis shack has affectionately become known as Fenton's Court to all regulars who play at the Park.

Several years ago, the Roeding Park Tennis Club had the above two-foot by three-foot sign professionally made; and it was hung on the court near the tennis shack, where it added considerably to the overall look of the Tennis Center. But then, recently, the Parks Department removed the sign, and rightfully so, because the naming or renaming of city property is something that must be done with the approval of Fresno City Council.

The Park sits within councilwoman Cynthia Sterling's district. On June 5th, she and Chief of Staff, Gregory Barfield will make the pitch for the re-hanging of the sign and the official renaming of the court by the tennis shack.

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