Homer Peabody (1919-2005)

     Dr. Homer Peabody was an instrumental figure in the development of Youth Tennis San Diego. He was born in Denver, Colorado and his family moved to San Diego when he was six. Dr. Peabody graduated in 1937 from San Diego High School where he was the Associate Student Body president and he lettered in tennis and basketball. He earned a basketball scholarship to Harvard where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1941. He received his medical degree in 1944 from Physicians and Surgeons College at Columbia, before joining the Army in World War II. Peabody left the Army Medical Corps as a captain in 1947 and joined the Rees-Steely staff in 1951 after earning a master in medicine from the University of Minnesota. He became medical director of their research foundation in 1967 and medical director of the group in 1977. Dr. Peabody was named Mr. San Diego in 1997 by the San Diego Rotary Club and was a past president. Meanwhile, Youth Tennis San Diego was formed in 1953, but it wasn’t until Peabody befriended fellow inductee George Barnes that it really began to take hold. Homer and George had a vision of a facility for children and they made it happen. Homer spearheaded plans for what became the Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center. The 12 ½ acre center opened with 24 courts and an 11,000 square-foot youth activity building in 1995 and became the home for Youth Tennis San Diego. Not only was Homer the visionary, but he took time to play tennis with the children who so benefited from his gift. Today, Youth Tennis San Diego is named in a charitable remainder trust created by Homer and his wife Betty. It is a gift that keeps on giving.