USTA New England to Induct Six into Hall of Fame; Ceremony to be Held at International Tennis Hall of Fame Saturday, June 10, in Newport, Rhode Island.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. -- USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), will induct six New Englanders into its Hall of Fame this Saturday, June 10, 2006, at a ceremony to be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., beginning at 6:30 p.m. The six inductees, along with some of their more notable achievements, are listed below.

Russ Adams, from Reading, is a veteran tennis photographer who has shot the pros internationally for more than 53 years. From Evonne Goolagong to Steffi Graf, from Jimmy Connors to Boris Becker, he has taken 1.6 million photographs over the span of his career. A former photographer for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the Boston Herald, he revolutionized Grand Slam photography by suggesting photographers be granted on-court access to shoot the matches, starting at the US Open. In 2002, he was the only photographer to ever be nominated for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Alan Chandronnait, from Bow, N.H., has twice won the New England Men's Open Championship. He has been ranked No. 2 in New England Mens' Open Singles; No. 1 in Mens' Open Doubles; and No. 1 in Father/Son and Father/Daughter Doubles. In its July 14, 2004, edition, the New Hampshire Union Leader proclaimed Alan Chandronnait as "the best player this state has produced." A staple in New England tennis for over 30 years, he is past president of the New Hampshire Tennis Association (1988-1992) and he is the owner and head professional of Chandronnait Tennis Academy.

Andrea Voikos Dorr, from Scituate, R.I., has been ranked No. 1 in New England consistently across all age divisions from 1964-1974. She was ranked in the Top 5 nationally in 1970 in the 16-and-under age division and in the Top 10 in the 18-and-under age division. The winner of nine national titles she attended Odessa Jr. College (Texas) on a full scholarship and in her sophomore year she helped propel the women's tennis team to the NCAA national title. In 1974 she was drafted by the recently resurrected World TeamTennis franchise the Boston Lobsters.

Dr. Robert "Bob" Leach, from Weston, has been involved in tennis for 40 years. A consistently ranked New England tournament player since the 1970s, he won the National Father/Son Grass Court Championship with son Michael at Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline in both 1990 and 1991, 10 years after the duo was ranked No. 1 in the nation. The former team physician for the original Boston Lobsters (1974-78), he is a past committee member of the USTA's Sports Medicine and Sports Science Committee (1989-99).

The late Ann Rogan, formerly from Needham, served as secretary, associate director, then, in 1985, she became the first female executive director of the New England Lawn Tennis Association (NELTA), the precursor to what is known today as USTA New England. She had served the association in a full-time capacity since 1972 before being promoted to executive director in 1985.

Kay Ruel, from Portsmouth, N.H., has been actively involved in tennis for over 37 years. A retired registered nurse, she was involved in the building and, for many years, operation of Spruce Meadow Tennis Club in Greenland, N.H. She is a USPTA-certified teaching professional who was elected as the first woman president of the USPTA's New England division. A former USTA New England No. 1-ranked doubles player with partner Carol Jaffe in Womens' 55s (1988-89), she has been rated as a referee chair umpire and linesperson for the New England Tennis Umpires Association, an organization in which she is still actively involved.

Established in 1990, the USTA New England Hall of Fame exists to recognize those tennis players and non-players in New England whose achievements as sportsmen or sportswomen are worthy of the highest commendation and recognition, or whose contributions as officials or individuals in some tennis-related activity have been so outstanding over a significant period of time as to justify the highest commendation and recognition. Past inductees include Bud Collins (1990), James H. Van Alen (1995), Tim Mayotte (1996), Sheila Weinstock (2002), and William S. Packer (2004). For a complete list of inductees and to view the USTA New England Hall of Fame induction criteria, log on to www.USTANewEngland.com and click on "Awards / Hall of Fame."

An additional award will be given to Art Goldblatt from Norwalk, Conn., during the 2006 USTA New England Hall of Fame Ceremony: the Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award. This award is given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to tennis in New England during his or her lifetime. It is one of the highest honors an individual can receive from USTA New England.

Goldblatt has been a USTA volunteer for 15 years. He served on USTA New England's Board of Directors for four years, including two as vice president. A member of USTA Connecticut for the past eight years, he has served the state association as secretary, vice president, and, for the past three years, president. In 1995, he founded the USTA NJTL, Norwalk Grassroots Tennis, an inner-city junior tennis program for economically disadvantaged youngsters. Raising over $100,000 in the past two years through private contributions, the program has grown tremendously over the years, serving 325 children in 2005.

For more information, to schedule an interview with any of this year's honorees, or if you would like to cover the event contact Tim Rossi, USTA New England Communications Manager, at 508-366-3450, ext. 28, or by e-mail at [e-mail].

About USTA New England

USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in the sport in New England by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. Founded in 1927 as the New England Lawn Tennis Association, USTA New England boasts more than 30,000 individual members, 350 organizational members, 500 volunteers, and a professional staff of 20. For more information, log on to www.ustanewengland.com.