FEATURELOOK
Tennis Everyone? By Amy Dee Stephens
Lisa and David Minihan
Edmond is home to a Power Couple in the Tennis World: The new Edmond Tennis Center, a 30-court tennis center in David and Lisa Minihan. They met at a tennis championship over partnership with Edmond Public Schools, is scheduled to open in 20 years ago, and since then have spent their careers working early May, with David as the director and Lisa as the contractor together in the tennis industry. They are foundational to many managing the tournaments. “We are working long days, but metro-area and nation-wide tennis activities. we’re so excited about the future of Edmond tennis,” David said. David was the teaching pro at Westwood Tennis in Norman in “We are excited that the new facility increases our resources to the late 1990s. When he and Lisa married, she also took a job at grow that sport,” Lisa said. Westwood—where they both worked happily for two decades. The Minihan’s daughters, Aspen and Chloe, have also “When our daughters were born, they grew up in a playpen in embraced the family business. Aspen is involved in high school the pro shop,” Lisa said. “All the customers knew our girls.” tennis, and Chloe plays tennis in middle school. Both are active in After 21 years at Westwood, and years their parents’ foundation, Play It Forward, which of commuting from Edmond where the The new Edmond Tennis helps under-served and special-needs children girls attended school, David and Lisa had Center, a 30-court tennis experience tennis. At the new facility, having the opportunity to switch facilities. “I loved center, is scheduled to more indoor courts offers increased opportunity Westwood and wasn’t looking to leave, but three for children with compromised health and open in early May years ago, the opportunity to be the director at temperature needs to try tennis. Following in the Kickingbird Tennis Court opened up. I saw the family’s service-minded footsteps, Chloe started plans for the new Edmond complex they planned to build, and I her own foundation called “Attire for a Smile,” raising money to felt I would regret it if I didn’t give it a shot,” David said. “I put the buy head-to-toe outfits for children serviced by the Hope Center. decision in God’s hands and took the job when it was offered.” “It’s been a blessing to raise our family in a tennis Lisa, meanwhile, was thriving as a tournament coordinator environment, and we are excited about the future of Edmond and winning national recognition. She took a job at the tennis,” Lisa said. neighboring Oak Tree Tennis Courts. Instead of competing, To learn more, visit www.playitforwardedmond.com or the two Edmond facilities work together to share their indoor www.kbtenniscenter.com. and outdoor courts. This has allowed Edmond to host larger tournaments, and it has also allowed David and Lisa to continue working together. 16
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EDMONDOUTLOOK.COM
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APRIL 2020
