Gladys Heldman - Misplaced Pages

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Gladys Heldman, an instrumental figure in the formation of women's professional tennis.

Heldman was considered the anchor of the women's game for two decades. The founder of World Tennis magazine in the early 1950s, she supported Billie Jean King and other disgruntled female tennis players who formed the Virginia Slims Tour in the early 1970s (the precursor of today's WTA tour). According to the encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, Heldman "almost single-handedly stimulated American tennis." Gladys also received a Master's degree in Medieval history and was a college mathematics professor. Heldman is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Dates: b. May 13, 1922

Career Highlights: Heldman first became interested in tennis after marrying Julius Heldman, the United States junior champion in 1936. Gladys started playing tennis after her two daughters were born (her daughters, Carrie Heldman and Julie Heldman, had national junior rankings, and Julie was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world). Originally a New Yorker, Gladys rose to a No. 1 ranking in Texas, as well as No. 2 in the Southwest; she even appeared at Wimbledon in 1954 and also competed in the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills. Although she achieved success as a player, Heldman is she is best known for founding the World Tennis magazine in 1953. Heldman promoted the women's game during the 1950s and 1960s, and worked with female tennis players to create a separate women's circuit in 1970. Many female players felt they were being demeaned both financially and attitudinally by the male-dominated tennis power structure. Gladys supported top players Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals, as well as her daughter Julie, and was able to convince the head of Philip Morris, Joe Cullman, to provide financial assistance. The first participants in the circuit, known as the "Houston Nine," played in the first Virginia Slims Circuit tournament in Houston in late 1970; the players prominently accepted $1 contracts from Heldman. The tournament was a success, and although the American players were temporarily suspended by the USTA, the Virginia Slims Circuit became so popular that it eventually merged with the USTA so that women could compete in the same tournaments as men and earn equal prize money.

Although, the Virginia Slims Circuit was an important part of women's tennis, Heldman soon sold her magazine to CBS Publications in 1972 and was out of tennis politics by the middle of the 1970's. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979 as well as the National Tennis Hall of Fame and will always be remembered as the founder of the Virginia Slims Circuit.

Ms. Heldman, the founder, publisher and editor of World Tennis magazine, began playing tennis at age 25. As an amateur, she was ranked No. 1 in Texas. She competed in the United States National Championships four times and at Wimbledon in 1954.

Off the court, Ms. Heidman was an indomitable force. She started World Tennis magazine in 1953 as a forum for the sport's views and problems. During its early years, the magazine was a one-woman operation, with Ms. Heldman as editor in chief, layout editor, art director and advertising director. She sold the magazine to CBS Publications in 1972.

The magazine helped transform Ms. Heidman into an advocate for women's tennis and one of the most influential people in the game.

In 1970, she used her status to help nine of the top women's players, led by Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals, form their own pro tour.

She arranged for the Houston Racquet Club to sponsor a tournament and had nearly all the players in the group sign $1.00 contracts with World Tennis to play in the tournament. Heldman persuaded her friend Joseph Culiman, chairman of Philip Morris, to donate prize money and sponsor five tournaments.

Despite suspensions and economic sanctions, the women's pro tour evolved into the Virginia Slims tour.

"Without Gladys, there wouldn't be women's professional tennis," King said in a statement Monday. "When I accepted that $1 contract from Gladysmore than 30 years ago, I knew we were all part of something special and that women's tennis had been changed forever because of her vision."

Gladys Medalie Heidman was born May 13, 1922, in New York City. Her father, George Z. Medalie, was a New York lawyer and judge. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, she married Julius Heldman, a former United States junior tennis champion, in 1942.

The Heldmans' daughters, Carrie and Julie Heldman, were accomplished players; Julie was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world in 1969 and 1974.

Ms. Heidman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979.

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