Class
of 1939 Graduate Still Swinging
Wade B. “Boots” MacDonald, a member of
the Class of 1939, played football, basketball and
baseball while at Erskine College, but has turned his
interest to tennis and been successful playing in
tournaments for senior citizens, winning numerous
tournament championships for players in their 70s and
80s.
His success began in 1992 when he won the first
state championship in the Seventy-Five Singles
tournament, and pulled off another win in 1993. In
1994 he was the state champion, with partner Mildred
Southern, in the Seventies Mixed Doubles tournament.
In 1995 he lost to Lyle Edwards in a singles
match. Edwards is a member of the Erskine Class of
1938.
“Neither of us played on the tennis team
while we were at Erskine,” said MacDonald.
“Coach Todd wouldn't allow me to play for fear
of injury.”
Edwards went on to win the state championship in
doubles with Paul Richardson. MacDonald said jokingly
of his friend Edwards, “Lyle took up tennis
later in life.”
The Seventies Mixed Doubles tournament was the
next victory for MacDonald, in 1996. His partner was
Mildren Southern again. Another win for him was in
the 1996 Doubles, with partner Jim Chevasse. He
played and won the Eighties doubles in 1997 with
partner Hal Southern, and also won the Singles in
Kiawah Beach, S.C.
He was Eighties Doubles champion in 1998 with
partner Hal Southern, and also in 1998 won the
Eighties Singles championship in Kiawah Beach.
