Tim McAvoy's Induction Speech

March 16, 2012
Long Island, NY

On March 16, 2012 during the APTA Nationtional Championships, Tim McAvoy was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame at a rousing ceremony at Huntington Country Club. Duane Hayden began the speeches, followed by Hall-of-Famer Bob Brown, with Hall-of-Famer Steve Baird offering the crowd a glimpse into Tim's life and his contributions to the sport of Platform Tennis. This is the text of Tim's induction speech.

Thank you Steve…

I stand here tonight humbled but extremely proud to be inducted into the American Platform Tennis Association Hall of Fame.

I would like to thank Bob Brown and the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for nominating me…and the American Platform Tennis Association Board of Directors for supporting my nomination.

Platform tennis has been a significant part of my life---from playing with my family as a child, to competing in organized events since 1983 and giving back to my favorite sport over the past twenty years.

In fact, if it weren’t for platform tennis, I would never have met some of my best friends in life…and I would have never met my wife, Nancy, in Toronto back in 1984.

I love this sport.  I love competing on the court with a friend by my side---trying to figure out how to win the last point.

I love the camaraderie in the hut, after the battle has ended….the friendships that extend over multiple decades and the new friendships formed each and every year I play.

Competition and camaraderie---for me, it doesn’t get much better than that in a sport, and all of us are blessed to have both available to us in platform tennis---if we choose to want it.

For most of the past 13 years, I have been actively involved on the APTA Board.  For me, this was an opportunity to give back to our great game and work side by side with fellow volunteers who are as passionate about our sport as I am.  To Ann Sheedy, who truly leads the APTA, it continues to be a pleasure to work side by side with you and thank you for all you do to help the APTA govern and grow the game.

As I said at the beginning, I am humbled to be included along side such great players and pioneers in our sport.  Our sport was created in 1928 and 84 years later, 77 players and pioneers have been inducted into the APTA Hall of Fame.  I am more than humbled….

And for me, personally, I have goose bumps tonight, knowing that twenty years ago, to the month---in March 1992---my mother, Lucie Bel McAvoy, was inducted into the APTA Hall of Fame…at the APTA Men’s and Women’s Championships on Long Island.

While Mom is no longer on this earth with us, I know she is here in spirit (along with Dad)…and I also know their children, my siblings, are here with me tonight in this room---Sister Sue from Atlanta, GA….Laurie McAvoy Hissey from West Chester, PA and my brother Jim McAvoy, from Wyomissing, PA.  Thank you for being here and sharing this special evening with me and so many of my paddle friends.

I would also like to thank the platform tennis community for all of your support over the years.  As most of you know, I have had a few health issues over the past eight years, and your support has meant the world to me---and reinforces just how wonderful our community is.

In closing, I would not be here today, accepting this award, if it were not for a very special young lady.  This lady is the foundation upon which our family is built---and my faith, family and friends are the three most important elements in my life.

She is a friend, my best friend…and more than that, she is my soul mate.  I am a lucky man because she is also my wife---Nancy McAvoy….thank you Nancy.  I share this evening and this award with you…and all of you here tonight.