Roselyn F. Donnelly
Class of 2005
Roselyn Donnelly is widely regarded as the pioneer who built the foundation for junior tennis in Huntsville, earning her the affectionate title “Mother of Huntsville Tennis.”
Donnelly grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, just outside Cleveland, where she first learned the game of tennis on homemade clay courts located on her family’s farm. Her early love for the sport led her to play collegiate tennis while attending Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University, where she graduated in 1947 with a degree in biology.
Her life changed in 1956 when her family moved to Huntsville. While driving through Big Spring Park one day in 1957, Donnelly noticed four public tennis courts sitting unused. With the encouragement of park superintendent W. E. McBride, she launched a summer tennis program for local youth.
The program began in 1958 with approximately 150 young players. Under Donnelly’s leadership it expanded dramatically, reaching nearly 600 junior participants at 10 locations by 1971. Many of those early players eventually became instructors themselves, extending Donnelly’s influence across generations of Huntsville tennis.
While directing the junior program, Donnelly remained an accomplished competitive player. One of the highlights of her career came in 1961 when she captured the Alabama State Tennis Championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Donnelly also served the community in education. In 1975 she became Adult Community Education Director for the Huntsville City Schools, a position she held until 1991.
Her contributions to tennis were widely recognized. The Huntsville Women’s Tennis Association established a scholarship at Calhoun Community College in her name in 1975. Later, the association created the Roselyn Donnelly Most Improved Player Award and renamed its annual fall tournament the Roselyn Donnelly Memorial Tennis Tournament in her honor.
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