Wilmington tennis icon Lenny Simpson dead at age 75
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Tennis trailblazer and Wilmington native Lenny Simpson has died.
The Southern Tennis Foundation posted the announcement on its Facebook page Friday morning.
In it, the foundation says, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lenny Simpson, a true legend in the world of tennis and a 2020 Hall of Fame inductee of the Southern Tennis Foundation. Lenny’s journey began when he was introduced to the game at age 5 on a clay court known locally as the “Black Country Club,” where he crossed paths with world champion Althea Gibson. The first thing Gibson said to him was, “Hello, Champ. What took you so long?” then handed Simpson his first tennis racquet.” The statement ends with, “Lenny’s contributions to the sport and his commitment to empowering the next generation of tennis players will forever be remembered. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Lenny Simpson. Your legacy will live on.”
Simpson made his mark on the tennis world on several levels, including being the youngest male player to compete in the US National Championships (now the US Open), but two of his proudest accomplishments were the One Love Tennis program and the Lenny Simpson Tennis & Education Fund.
In October of 2022, Simpson announced he was stepping down as director of One Love Tennis. He had been battling health challenges since suffering a stroke in March of 2021.
Stay with WWAY for on-air and online more on the life and legacy of Lenny Simpson.
