[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 59 (Thursday, May 3, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               S.C. TENNIS COACH CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, Wilton ``Skinny'' McKinney first 
swung a tennis racket in 1930 while giving his Greer neighborhood's new 
red clay court a try. He and his buddies scrounged up one ball and a 
rule book and, before you know it, Skinny had caught the tennis bug.
  Skinny served as captain of his Greenville High and University of 
South Carolina tennis teams, and then served his country for three 
years in the Pacific fleet during World War II. Although he went on to 
capture the South Carolina doubles championship five times, Skinny 
found his true talent when he began coaching at his high school alma 
mater in 1948. For 25 years, he worked as an accountant by day and 
volunteer coach in the evening, leading Greenville High to an 
unprecedented 16 State titles. He continues to give weekly lessons in 
Greenville. Many of his former students have won athletic scholarships, 
including a handful of All-Americans, and two became world-class 
players.
  Skinny's success has earned him numerous accolades, including the 
Order of the Palmetto and Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow 
award, as well as elections to the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame and the 
South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. For many years, he was also chair 
umpire at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament on Hilton Head. The 
center tennis court at the Greenville Country Club, where he is a 
former director of tennis programs, bears his name, as does an annual 
award presented by The South Carolina Tennis Association. Yet most of 
his students would argue his greatest asset is an inspired coaching 
style that tempers hard work with a caring attitude. Last week, friends 
and students paid tribute to the 60-year coaching veteran with a 
surprise 80th birthday party.
  ``Skinny'' McKinney is a credit to the sport of tennis, to South 
Carolina and the nation. Peatsy and I wish him a happy belated birthday 
and best wishes out on the court.

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