Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
By Sumner Rodman
Historic Chestnut Hill - Sunday, April 2, 1995
Hazel Hotchkiss, a young Californian tennis player, came East in the early 1900's. She met and married a local gentleman named George Wightman and raised in this house a family of three children: George Jr., William and Virginia. After her marriage, Hazel continued her tennis career for the next four decades as Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman.
Between 1909 and 1919: She won the U.S. Championship 4 times
Between 1909 and 1918: She won the U.S. Mixed Doubles 6 times.
Between 1909 and 1928: She won the Women's Doubles 6 times.
In both 1919 and 1927: She won the U.S. Indoor Singles.
Between 1919 and 1943: She won the U.S. Indoor Doubles 10 times.
Between 1940 and 1954: She won the U.S. Women's Senior Doubles 11 times and the U.S. Mixed Doubles 6 times.
Quite a record!
In her long and successful career, Hazel played with or against such players of renown as Bill Tildon, Helen Wills Moody, Helen Jacobs, Sarah Palfrey, Eleanor and Richard Sears. In addition, Hazel established the Wightman Cup in 1923 for International Women's Play, which consisted of England versus the United States in the earliest years. She played on the first team and was Captain for a number of years thereafter.
If it can be said that Hazel was blessed as a gifted athlete, it can also be said with impunity that she gave as much as she was given. Hazel LOVED young people and encouraged innumerable hundreds of them throughout her long career and after her active days.
I personally first met Mrs. Wightman in 1929, when I played at a one-day tournament which she regularly sponsored in the spring and fall, one for young boys and the other for young girls, at the Longwood Cricket Club. She was not only a great player but a sympathetic, caring, and gifted teacher as well. Several local players whom she instructed, including Sarah Palfrey and Majorie Morill, attained national status. For many, many years at the U. S. Amateur Championships, which were held at the Longwood grass courts, Mrs. Wightman was a gracious host to scores of women tennis players from all over the world. This house was a high-grade dormitory! The “H” in her middle name could have stood for “Hospitality”. She was a mentor and “mother hen” not only to national and international players, but to countless people in the Chestnut Hill and surrounding areas as well.
About 25 years ago, a group of people ( my brother, Bert and myself included) wanted to establish a year-round tennis and swimming facility in Weston. Hazel's help proved invaluable. The Longwood Cricket Club at the time was contemplating selling its present site (for an enormous sum of money!) and building a new clubhouse and stadium in Weston.
This situation seemed overpowering to the Weston town fathers, so instead a quiet club with no stadium and no wining and dining facilities was established. It was through Hazel's interest and support that we were able to convince the townspeople that there was a place for a club of this sort. I am pleased to say that it is going strong to this day. Mrs. Wightman's assistance in this process cannot be overemphasized. Her prestige, even though she was not to be a member of the club, carried tremendous weight. In her honor it was named the Wightman Tennis Center and today we have displayed a number of her trophies there, gifts of the family.
Her dedication to public service extended to the community at large. During World War I, she played many exhibitions for the American Red Cross. Interestingly enough, during World War II she served with my mother as a Grey Lady in the American Red Cross. Both of them were not only Grey Ladies but great ladies, might I add…-
Hazel Wightman was without a doubt a real “Champion” both in her tennis life and in her personal life. The extent of her influence is such that her presence must still be felt in this beautiful home.
Historic Chestnut Hill - Sunday, April 2, 1995
Hazel Hotchkiss, a young Californian tennis player, came East in the early 1900's. She met and married a local gentleman named George Wightman and raised in this house a family of three children: George Jr., William and Virginia. After her marriage, Hazel continued her tennis career for the next four decades as Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman.
Between 1909 and 1919: She won the U.S. Championship 4 times
Between 1909 and 1918: She won the U.S. Mixed Doubles 6 times.
Between 1909 and 1928: She won the Women's Doubles 6 times.
In both 1919 and 1927: She won the U.S. Indoor Singles.
Between 1919 and 1943: She won the U.S. Indoor Doubles 10 times.
Between 1940 and 1954: She won the U.S. Women's Senior Doubles 11 times and the U.S. Mixed Doubles 6 times.
Quite a record!
In her long and successful career, Hazel played with or against such players of renown as Bill Tildon, Helen Wills Moody, Helen Jacobs, Sarah Palfrey, Eleanor and Richard Sears. In addition, Hazel established the Wightman Cup in 1923 for International Women's Play, which consisted of England versus the United States in the earliest years. She played on the first team and was Captain for a number of years thereafter.
If it can be said that Hazel was blessed as a gifted athlete, it can also be said with impunity that she gave as much as she was given. Hazel LOVED young people and encouraged innumerable hundreds of them throughout her long career and after her active days.
I personally first met Mrs. Wightman in 1929, when I played at a one-day tournament which she regularly sponsored in the spring and fall, one for young boys and the other for young girls, at the Longwood Cricket Club. She was not only a great player but a sympathetic, caring, and gifted teacher as well. Several local players whom she instructed, including Sarah Palfrey and Majorie Morill, attained national status. For many, many years at the U. S. Amateur Championships, which were held at the Longwood grass courts, Mrs. Wightman was a gracious host to scores of women tennis players from all over the world. This house was a high-grade dormitory! The “H” in her middle name could have stood for “Hospitality”. She was a mentor and “mother hen” not only to national and international players, but to countless people in the Chestnut Hill and surrounding areas as well.
About 25 years ago, a group of people ( my brother, Bert and myself included) wanted to establish a year-round tennis and swimming facility in Weston. Hazel's help proved invaluable. The Longwood Cricket Club at the time was contemplating selling its present site (for an enormous sum of money!) and building a new clubhouse and stadium in Weston.
This situation seemed overpowering to the Weston town fathers, so instead a quiet club with no stadium and no wining and dining facilities was established. It was through Hazel's interest and support that we were able to convince the townspeople that there was a place for a club of this sort. I am pleased to say that it is going strong to this day. Mrs. Wightman's assistance in this process cannot be overemphasized. Her prestige, even though she was not to be a member of the club, carried tremendous weight. In her honor it was named the Wightman Tennis Center and today we have displayed a number of her trophies there, gifts of the family.
Her dedication to public service extended to the community at large. During World War I, she played many exhibitions for the American Red Cross. Interestingly enough, during World War II she served with my mother as a Grey Lady in the American Red Cross. Both of them were not only Grey Ladies but great ladies, might I add…-
Hazel Wightman was without a doubt a real “Champion” both in her tennis life and in her personal life. The extent of her influence is such that her presence must still be felt in this beautiful home.