Kelleher, Robert

Robert J. Kelleher
Born: March 05, 1913
Hometown: New York, New York, United States
Citizenship: United States
Inducted: 2000

Contributions
I.L.T.F.  U.S. Delegate 1962, 1963, 1967-1969
Davis Cup Annual Meeting 1962, 1963, 1967-1969
“Open” Tennis Special Meeting 1968

U.S.T.A. President 1967-1968
1st Vice President 1966
2nd Vice President 1965

Other
Member: National Advisory Committee of the National Tennis Foundation and Hall of Fame. International Clubs of Australia, Canada, France, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, United States
Honorary Member of the Great Britain International Club.

Born March 5, 1913 in New York, Robert Kelleher was an assistant official referee for the U.S. National Championships at Forest Hills from 1932-1937. Kelleher was the New England Intercollegiate Doubles Champion in 1933 and won the Eastern Collegiate Doubles the same year. He won the Canadian mixed doubles championship in 1947 with his future wife. Kelleher was the U.S. Davis Cup Captain in 1962-63 (winning in ’63) and was a three-time U.S. Hard Court 45s doubles champion. Kelleher was president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in 1967-68. During this time, one of the most important tennis events was the advent of Open tennis. Kelleher, as president of the USLTA, obtained American approval of Open tennis after a yearlong campaign. As the principal USLTA delegate to the ILTF he, along with Herman David and Derek Hardwick, made Open tennis a reality in 1968. Thereafter Kelleher participated extensively in the activities of the USLTA and the Southern California Tennis Association. He added distinction to his career and to tennis by being named a U.S. District Court Judge, a position he still holds.

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