STA Hall of Fame
The Spearfish Tennis Association initiated this honor to recognize men and women who have contributed to the growth and enjoyment of tennis in the community by their service, their teaching and coaching, and dedication to and passion for the sport.
Click here to learn more about the STA Hall of Fame structure, presentation and criteria.
2019- Maury Etem and Dick Hicks
2020 - A. June Dickey and Doug Dexheimer
2023 - Walter Cook and Joe Doerges
2022 HOF COURT NAMING CEREMONY
At our annual banquet at Guadalajara's Restaurant on December 14, 2019 the Spearfish Tennis Association inducted Maury Etem and Dick Hicks as the first members of the Spearfish Tennis Association Hall of Fame.
Pat Salcone, an STA board member, introduced Maury and presented him with a certificate inducting him into the STA Hall of Fame.
Kent Meyers, an STA board member, presented Dick's wife, Rita, with Dick's certificate.
Maury Etem
Maury Etem grew up in Lead. Though he left the area to work in the aerospace industry, he returned after retirement. He and his wife Patti settled in Spearfish, where both of them became active in tennis. Maury started the Spearfish Tennis Association after recognizing the need for an organization to coordinate tennis activities, and was its first president. He was instrumental in establishing tennis as a varsity sport in the high school and volunteered for several years as the first coach. Besides being a skilled player, Maury was constantly teaching, and giving advice to other players. Everyone who played with him or against him became a better player through his encouragement and insight. Maury passed away in 2021.
Richard "Dick" Hicks
Richard "Dick" Hicks grew up in Detroit and came to Spearfish to teach in the Art Department at Black Hills State University, Like Maury Etem, Dick was a skilled player and generous in sharing his knowledge of the game. Dick was one of the STA's original board members and remained on the board until his death in 2017. He was instrumental in working with the City of Spearfish, the Spearfish School District and the USTA to build the current nine-court tennis complex and he contributed both time and money to that effort. He volunteered his time to teach in the city's Summer Rec program for several years, was a volunteer coach for the Middle School program and helped teach in the STA's winter tennis clinics at the Donald E. Young Center. In his seventies, Dick's interest in teaching the game led him to take classes to be certified as a teaching professional.
A. June Dickey
A. June Dickey was one of the best tennis players the Black Hills region has ever produced. June was born in Spearfish, attended Spearfish High School, and in 2003 was inducted into SHS’s Hall of Fame. She attended Principia College where she earned 15 varsity letters in tennis, basketball, field hockey, and softball. After receiving a Master’s degree in Physical Education, she administered the Women’s Intramural departments at LSU and Rice University. She achieved national United States Tennis Association No. 1 rankings in both singles and doubles in various senior women's age divisions and won over 30 USTA national tennis titles in senior women's tennis. She represented the United States on the European International Veterans and Friendship Cup tennis teams and twice won the USTA seniors tennis grand slam in 2003 and 2004, winning national championships on all four tennis surfaces. June was a wonderful analyst of the game of tennis and was always willing to help others improve whether she was playing with them or competing.
Doug Dexheimer
Doug Dexheimer grew up in Spearfish and went to Spearfish High School. He attended Black Hills State University and was part of a club tennis team that traveled to other schools to compete. Doug dedicated his life to Spearfish’s young people and influenced hundreds in his long tenure as coordinator of youth programs at St. Joseph’s Church. He was one of the first board members of the Spearfish Tennis Association and served in that capacity for many years. He taught Spearfish Summer Rec tennis lessons as well as the STA’s winter tennis clinics, which introduce young people to the game, and he has taught the lessons at the STA’s annual summer Tennis Block Parties for many years. He was influential in helping the STA achieve the financial support to build the six-court tennis complex at the high school. Perhaps Doug’s greatest contribution to both tennis and to the enhancement of the lives of youth in Spearfish was as coach of both boys and girls varsity tennis for many years. During his coaching tenure he built both programs up in terms of the numbers of players participating and in terms of their competitive level.
At our annual banquet at Guadalajara's Restaurant on July 20, 2023, the Spearfish Tennis Association inducted Walter(Walt) Cook and Joe Doerges into the Spearfish Tennis Association Hall of Fame.
After Kent Meyers introduced Walt and Kyle Doerges introduced Joe.
Paul Soriano presented certificates inducting them into the STA Hall of Fame.
Tom Fitch then presented them with court signs which will be mounted at the Spearfish High School Tennis Courts
Walt Cook and Joe Doerges have supported tennis in the community for many years, and each in his own way has been instrumental in nurturing players and expanding opportunities for play.
Walt Cook
Walt Cook was one of the original members of the Spearfish Tennis Association and was on the board of directors for twenty years. A strong believer in the idea that the health and growth of tennis in the community depends on cooperation, he was a persistent force in convincing city administrators and the school to work together with the STA. His mediation was instrumental in the planning and construction of the high school courts, and the model of cooperation he instituted continues to be a vital part of Spearfish’s tennis community. As a teacher, coach, and advocate, he started a tennis program in the Physical Education department at BHSU, worked with young players in the Spearfish Summer Recreation program, and was a volunteer coach for several years for the Spearfish Junior High program. In order to more effectively work with students, he got a Professional Tennis Teaching certificate late in his life. Walt’s influence on tennis in Spearfish is long-lasting and resides in the physical infrastructure itself, the positive working relationship the STA has with the city and the school, and in the numerous students and players who have learned from his instruction.
Joe Doerges
Joe Doerges has been involved with tennis for over five decades. He was the head boys’ tennis coach in Clear Lake, Iowa for 16 years, and was involved with the Winterset, Iowa parks and rec tennis program for nine years. Soon after arriving in Spearfish in 2012, Doerges joined the STA, and has been a board member ever since, serving at various times as president, vice-president, and treasurer. He has been a volunteer coach for both boys and girls tennis in the school and was influential in forming an after-school program for boys and girls, grades 6-8, during the regular season, which provides a foundation for upcoming varsity players. Doerges has also been an important contact between the STA and the USTA, and has guided the organization through several grants that have improved the facilities in important ways.
