The Spearfish Tennis Association (STA) recently received a $2000.00 donation from the family of June Dickey to establish a fund to help youth in Spearfish develop their tennis skills and abilities. The STA will use the June Dickey Player Development Fund to support youth players who wish to take lessons or attend tennis camps.
June Dickey was one of the Black Hills’ area’s most accomplished athletes. After attending Spearfish High School, she earned fifteen varsity letters in tennis, basketball, field hockey, and softball at Principia College in Illinois. In 1972, June received a Master’s of Science Degree, Phi Kappa Phi, from Louisiana State University and went on to administer the Women’s Intramural departments at LSU and Rice Universities. She achieved the United States Tennis Association (USTA) No. 1 ranking in the State of Texas singles and doubles in her relevant age group from 1986-1996 and the No. 1 National Ranking in doubles with her partner, Elaine Mason, of Fresno, CA from 1999-2004. Together they won the USTA Women’s Doubles Gold Slam title in 2003 and 2004, meaning winning on all four USTA venues on grass, clay, hard, and indoor courts for which they were honored at the US Open in Flushing Meadows.
June and Elaine were on the 2001 United States 44th European International Veterans and Friendship Cup team and together won the doubles Championship. June was the finalist in the singles Championship. She is included in both Spearfish High School’s and the Spearfish Tennis Association’s Halls of Fame, and a tennis court at Spearfish high school is named for her.
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. She is an inspiration for Spearfish’s young players, and the June Dickey Player Development Fund is intended to carry her spirit forward and help generations of new players learn to love the game that she loved. Her children, Larry McFall of Reno, Nevada, Sandra Kamrath of Houston, Texas and Nancy Clay of Woodbridge, England have established the fund with a $2000.00 contribution in order to keep her influence and spirit alive in the community of Spearfish. In a letter to the STA, they said, “We are hoping that other family, friends, and other interested parties will see the benefits this fund can promote and continue to make it grow.”
The Spearfish Tennis Association, a federal non-profit organization, partners with the high school varsity and middle-school programs to help young people enjoy the game, improve their skills, and become more competitive. The June Dickey Player Development Fund will be a significant addition to the STA’s efforts to help Spearfish’s young players enjoy the game while improving their performance and level of competition. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can contact the STA through their website, playtennis.usta.com/spearfishtennisassociation or by emailing spearfishtennis@gmail.com.
