History and Legacy
Since 1917, The Pacific Coast Championships, originally the Western Federation of Tennis Clubs, and the ATA have joined forces to promote tennis among people of color. After 100 years, we have produced legends such as Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, and Zina Garrison. Our true legacy, however, will be the countless young people whose vision, education, and horizons have been broadened and whose lives have been changed because they learned, and had a chance to play tennis.
The ATA was born when representatives from more than a dozen black tennis clubs met in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 30, 1916, Thanksgiving Day. Dr. Harry S. McCard, Dr. William H. Wright, Dr. B.M. Rhetta, Ralph Cook, Henry Freeman and Tally Holmes were among the ATA’s founding fathers.
The Western Federation of Tennis Clubs was formed 4 months later. In 1917 the ATA asked the WFTC to join them as their Western Section. They accepted, becoming part of what is now the oldest and largest minority tennis Association in the world.
The initial Member Clubs were Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Monica, Westside, Ceres and Alpha. In 1921 the 1st PCC Tournament was held during the Labor Day weekend. Subsequent Annual PCC Tournaments followed in the ATA tradition of rotating the location up and down the West Coast. It has been held in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Oakland, Bakersfield and Portland, Oregon. In recent years, the tournament has been held in the city of Long Beach but there are plans on the drawing board to start rotating it again.
