Rhodes College Athletics

Champion, passionate teacher of tennis and art and a great partner on and off the court are just a few of the attributes that describe Jack Biedenharn. In the late 1950s Southwestern had some great tennis teams and players, and Jack Biedenharn, along with his roommate, Tommy Buford, were two of the best. Jack is also one of the few Lynx athletes who used his talents on both the tennis court and the gridiron. Not having enough to do, he played football his senior year for the Lynx.

Jack played tennis for Southwestern from 1955-1958, and he played #1 singles his senior year. He capped off his collegiate career by winning the singles title at the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Conference (TIAC) Championship, a tournament that featured the top college players in the state.

Jack continued his championship play at every age-group level on the state and national level. He won the Florida singles and doubles championships twice in his age group. He played on the Florida Intersectional programs national championship team several times in singles and doubles. He and his son, Joe, won the Father/Son Florida state title numerous times, which enabled them to compete in the Equitable National Father/Son competition, an event they finished as the national runners-up five times.

Jack taught art and coached tennis at Dan McCarty High School for more than twenty years. He was also an Assistant Professor of Art at Indian River Community College, where he coached tennis. He currently serves as the Assistant Tennis Professional at Orchid Island Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida. For his success on the court, his commitment as a coach and a life of service as a teacher of art and tennis, we are honored to induct JOHN URSERY BIEDENHARN into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 19th day of October, 2007.