Former Harding Tennis Player, Now National Pickleball Champion, Returns for 59th Anniversary

by Hannah Diles

Tony Webb, a 1965 Harding graduate and former tennis player turned national pickleball champion, returned to campus during Homecoming weekend for his 59th graduation anniversary. Webb traces his passion for sports back to childhood and credits Harding’s first intercollegiate tennis team with helping him refine his skills.

Growing up near the shores of Lake Erie, Webb was encouraged by his mother to go outside for fresh air. Venturing into the garden, he began hitting balls with an old wooden tennis racket, discovering both a love for sports and a natural competitive drive. After losing his first competition, Webb was inspired to work hard and improve. By the time he graduated high school, he had already earned a reputation as a champion in the Northeast.

Following two years at Florida Christian College, Webb transferred to Harding to complete his bachelor’s degree in business administration. During that year, Coach Hugh Groover sought to form Harding’s first intercollegiate tennis team. When Webb heard about it, he knew he wanted to join.

“Tennis is magic to me,” Webb said. “When I heard they were starting a tennis team, I had to join. I was the number one player and the team captain, and I ranked third in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. And I still play at 81.”

Despite a lack of prior intercollegiate experience, Harding’s tennis team made its debut in 1964, finishing fourth in the conference. The team included Webb, Terry Smith, Jim Ed Williams, Roger Johnson, Louis Stepter and Mel Gambrell. Five members, including Webb, returned to compete in the 1965 season.

Webb excelled not only on the courts but also in academics and his career. He graduated with a 3.8 GPA in his business courses. After serving in the Vietnam War, he settled in Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked as a women’s merchandise manager for JCPenney before spending 25 years as vice president of sales for Arctic Circle. His drive for competition continued to fuel his success in sales, allowing him to retire in his early 50s.

In Alaska, Webb remained competitive in tennis, winning state championships in the 35 plus and 45 plus age categories for a decade. As he grew older, his love for sports extended to pickleball and golf. Last year, Webb won the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship for the 80-and-over singles category in Naples, Florida. Even after undergoing hip and knee replacements, he maintains an active lifestyle, regularly alternating between pickleball, tennis and golf.

Reflecting on his time at Harding, Webb expressed gratitude for the University's impact on his competitive spirit and character. “Harding taught me to be a good person, to be competitive and to help others,” Webb said. “Everybody at Harding was like that. It was, and still is, amazing.”