Don Flye facts for kids

Donald Guy Flye (born in 1933, died July 17, 2013) was an American tennis player. He was known for his strong game and was considered one of the best players in the United States during his time.

Donald Guy Flye: A Tennis Champion

Starting Young in Tacoma

Don Flye was born in Tacoma, Washington. He began playing tennis at McKinley Playfield, a local park on the east side of Tacoma. He quickly became very good, earning national rankings in both singles and doubles for young players (Boys and Junior Men’s categories).

In 1951, Don teamed up with Bill Quillian from Seattle. Together, they won the National Junior Men’s Doubles Championship. This was a special moment because it was the only time players from the Pacific Northwest region had won this national title.

College and Junior Davis Cup

Don was so talented that he was chosen to be part of the United States Junior Davis Cup team in 1952 and 1953. The Davis Cup is a major international team competition in men's tennis. Being on the junior team meant he was one of the best young players in the country.

He also played for the University of Washington Tennis Team in 1952, 1953, and 1957. During his college career, Don won four championships in the Pacific Coast Conference division for both singles and doubles. He also helped his team do very well in the NCAA championships, which are national college sports tournaments. The Huskies finished third in 1952 and fifth in 1953, thanks to players like Don. If the current rules for selecting All-American honors were in place back then, Don would have been recognized as an All-American three times for his outstanding college play.

Playing on the World Stage

Don Flye competed in some of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world. He played in the United States National Singles Championships (held at Forest Hills, New York) three times. He also played in the United States National Doubles Championships (in Boston, Massachusetts) three times.

In 1955, Don even played in the first round of the famous Wimbledon Championships in England. He was nationally ranked in both singles and doubles in 1953 and 1954. In those years, he was ranked among the top ten in Men’s Open Doubles, again playing with Bill Quillian.

Don had impressive wins against players who had competed in the Davis Cup for other countries, and he even beat two players who had won Wimbledon titles. Because of his excellent performance in 1954, he was named a "Worlds Leading Player."

Military Service and Recognition

In 1955, Don represented the United States Army in the Worldwide All Services Championships. This was a tournament for top athletes serving in the military from around the world. He reached the semi-finals in singles and was a finalist in doubles. He was also selected as a member of the All World All Services team, showing he was one of the best military athletes globally.

In 2005, Don Flye was honored for his amazing tennis career when he was inducted into the Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.