Robert “Bob” Bacon (1932- )

     Bob Bacon’s earliest tennis recollection in 1939 is of receiving a 49 cent tennis racket from his father: strung.  Two years later, he became the number three open player in Bishop, California while his father was number one, his brother number two. Bob played all sports in high school in Ventura County, but it soon became evident that he and tennis would become inseparable. His influence on tennis in San Diego has encompassed competing, coaching and community service.  Bacon and his long-time doubles partner Jack Movido won eight USPTA National Championships, the American Tennis Association National 35 Championships in 1969 and three Western US Championships. In their twenty-five year partnership, they won nearly every San Diego tournament available. As far as coaching is concerned, his San Diego City College teams hold the existing record of nine consecutive conference titles (1969-1977), as well as five All Southern California Team Championships. In 1973, Coach Bacon was the first college coach to field a female on the men’s team, Robin Harris, and City College collected men’s singles, doubles and women’s singles titles at Ojai.  He has been a USPTA professional since 1955 and taught at the Vacation Village Tennis Club for ten years. It is in the area of community service that his presence has been most felt.  Bob and the late William Stack co-founded the San Diego District Tennis Association in 1973, an undertaking that took three years. Bacon and Doug Fitzgerald co-founded the San Diego County Umpires Association, and Bob was a part of a group that kept San Diego USPTA division separate from Los Angeles. He is still active in tournaments and continues to help the district “Grow the Game”. The San Diego Professional Tennis Association awarded him the Lifetime Achievement in 2009.