Walter Timothy Heckler

He was born on January 30, 1942, in Kimberly, South Africa, to Mavis and Walter Heckler. Tim attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship. He played Wimbledon in 1959, 1961 and the US Open in 1960. In 1973 Tim directed the Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs at the Astrodome. He recently retired from his position as CEO of the USPTA after 30 years. The USPTA honored Tim in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association’s Hall of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis Education Merit Award in 2000 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, he received the highest honor awarded by the USPTA, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award.

After graduating with a degree in biology, Tim worked at M.D Anderson Cancer Research Institute from 1963-1968 where he reached the position of chief research surgical technician. He then went to La Jolla, California, to work under Dr. Jonas Salk who hired him to establish a research animal care and surgical department at the prestigious Salk Institute.

Tim was an incredible sportsman. Besides tennis, he was an avid scuba diver and instructor and loved boating and snow skiing. His passion for sports and teaching young athletes was evident in the hours he spent coaching and strategizing his own children’s interests. His dedication to his sons, Chris, Timothy and David was evident in the hours he spent mentoring them on the court. He continued to share his love of tennis with his children and grandchildren through the creation of USPTA Little Tennis. He was a soccer coach to David, Chelsea and Mia. He was always there to expertly record all of Mia’s theatre performances.

Tim was also intrigued with technology, and as with all things he pursued, he excelled in learning and acquiring the latest and most innovative advancements. His knowledge and expertise in this area was impressive. His interest in IT and social media was shared by his son, Timothy. Together, they worked tirelessly on manifesting his dream of bringing USPTA to the forefront of the tennis industry through cutting edge technology.

Tim will always be remembered for his devotion to the ones he loved, his sharp intellect and business acumen, along with his love of knowledge and the joy of sharing what he learned with others.

Tim was sadly preceded in death by his sister, Heather Pheiffer, his sons, Mark Heckler, Alan Huff, Bruce Huff and his beloved Golden Retriever, Talula. Tim was an adoring husband of 28 years to Renee Tamborello Heckler. He was a devoted father to Cynthia Pointer & husband Jason, Christopher McNeill Huff, Timothy Martin Heckler & wife Sharon, David, Chelsea, and Mia Heckler. Grandchildren; Christopher Huff, and Alyssa, Sarah and Isabel Heckler.

A visitation will be held Friday February 8th, from 6 to 8pm at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home at 6700 Ferris Street, Bellaire, 77401 with a vigil service at 7pm.

A Memorial Mass will be held at noon on Saturday, February 9th at Saint Vincent De Paul Catholic Church at 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, 77025.

For those desiring memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org or the HITS Theatre, 311 W. 18th Street, Houston, TX 77008 www.hitstheatre.org/donate