Fund Created in Memory of Tommy Buford
Feb 12, 2018 | Men's Tennis
MEMPHIS – The Tiger Scholarship Fund has created a memorial account in honor former men's tennis coach Tommy Buford, who died Jan. 14 at age 83 at his home in Boise, Idaho. The account was created at the request of former Tiger tennis players and friends of coach Buford.
Buford served as men's tennis coach at Memphis for 32 years. A 2005 inductee in to the M Club Hall of Fame, Buford also served as the long-time director of the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour event, which was held each February at The Racquet Club of Memphis through 2017. Under his guidance, the indoor event attracted some of the sport's top stars, including Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. In part because of his Southern charm and hospitality, the players voted Buford as one of the ATP World Tour's top six tennis officials in 1985.
Buford guided a number of former Tigers who have contributed greatly to the Memphis tennis community. Former Tiger Phil Chamberlain followed in Buford's shoes and became the Memphis men's tennis coach after Buford resigned to devote his time to running the ATP World Tour event in Memphis. Peter Lebedevs, another former Tiger, followed Buford in to tournament administration. Lebedevs succeeded Chamberlain as the Memphis ATP event's tournament director before accepting an offer as the assistant tournament director at the BB&T Atlanta Open, a summer event on the ATP World Tour.
Donations made in Coach Buford's name will benefit the Memphis men's tennis program. Donations can be sent to: Tommy Buford Memorial Fund, c/o Tiger Scholarship Fund, 570 Normal, Attn: Brock McWhorter, Memphis, TN 38152.
A gathering celebrating Coach Buford's life will take place this summer
