October 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Smith Tennis Dedicates Observation Deck

Northampton, MA: The Smith College tennis team dedicated its new observation deck prior to the Mount Holyoke match on September 30th. The new deck, situated on top of the tennis hut, was funded by the family of Martha Wright Mitchell, Class of 1918.

The project was initiated by her son Louis. A friend of Smith tennis, Louis graduated from Denison University where he played both baseball and basketball and has since been inducted into Denison's Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments. Since his collegiate years, he has maintained a love for Division III intercollegiate athletics.  He has visited Smith on numerous occasions and reminisced that "my mother always recalled her time at Smith as some of the best years of her life." Because of his mother's fondness for Smith, he decided to fund the observation deck in memory of her.  While at Smith, Martha served as the President of the Athletic Association and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors.

Tennis coach Christine Davis and her team are appreciative of the new deck.  "Smith is blessed with alums  and individuals connected with our institution who believe in what we are doing and wish to support us.  We are most grateful for those who give back once they leave.  The family of Martha Mitchell represents the generosity of those alumnae and we thank them."