Class of 1990

Harold "Hal" Burrows, Jr.

 Hal Burrows is one of the most revered members of the Virginia tennis community. His career began when he won The Virginia State Boys Championship title in 1938 and 1939 and the Junior title in 1941 and 1942, but was interrupted when he joined the Army Air Force in 1942 to serve overseas.
 
Upon his return from the Army, Burrows attended the University of Virginia, where he won several Virginia State Championships.  He later went on to the national and international circuit and reached round 16 in the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles, California—the equivalent of being an All-American. In 1949, Burrows was runner-up to Cornell’s Dick Savit in the Eastern Intercollegiate.
 
Throughout his career, Burrows defeated over 33 different Davis Cup Players.  With doubles partner Straight Clark, Burrows became part of a top ten ranked team for five years. They were finalists in the National Clay Courts in Chicago, semi-finalists twice in the National Indoors in New York, semi-finalists and quarter-finalists in the Italian Championships, the French Championships and at Wimbledon.
 
Burrows and Clark reached one of their greatest accomplishments against the superb team of Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewell.  In 1953, Hoad and Rosewell won the doubles in Australia, France, and Wimbledon. They were trying for the Grand Slam in Brookline, Massachusetts when Burrows and Clark stopped them in four sets, 5-7, 14-12, 18-16, and 9-7. The following year Burrows and Clark received their crowning honor when they were named to the Davis Cup Team - an honor only one other Virginian, Arthur Ashe, has received.
 
Burrows became a tennis pro when he gave up the tour. Prior to his retirement, he concentrated on teaching his noted classical stroke to countless players at the Country Club of Virginia.  He helped many players develop skill, sportsmanship and character, guiding many of them to professional careers.

   
(To Sports Inductees List)