Three decades of coaching tennis was recognized Saturday as Henryettan Mark Milligan was inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.
20180210 152435His induction was held at the Quail Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City with over 20 friends, family members and former tennis students on hand to see the recognition.
“I am so honored to be here,” he said. “In all those years I was involved in tennis, it felt like family.”
A 1967 HHS graduate, he started coaching in Ardmore then went to Muskogee followed by stints at Henryetta, Altus and McAlester.
He had 12 all state athletes and 11 individual state champions.
In 2000 he was named OTCA coach of the year and regional coach of the year as well as selected as McAlester Teacher of the Year in 2003.
He recalled his young days at Henryetta. “When I think of tennis, I think of Henryetta.”
He said Dr. C.E. Smith was the mentor and benefactor for youngsters learning the sport. Milligan said a memory on the courts was then coach Mike Kennedy trying to teach him how to hit a top spin on the tennis ball.
Milligan said he was asked what school he would go into the hall of fame as since he was involved in several schools.
He said he loves the other towns and loves the Henryetta Knights, “but I will always be a Henryetta Hen.”
He was one of six people inducted into the hall of fames. They included Terry Woodard, Estle Wall, Ron Sharp, Dwight Nuckolls and Mark Blevins.

 

 

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