Special to the News-Herald

Jan Grover admittedly eats, breathes and lives tennis.

She’s been promoting tennis for nearly three decades. Currently, Grover serves as Second Vice President of the United States Tennis Association Virginia (USTA-VA) district.

At the Annual USTA-VA banquet held in September at Richmond’s Country Club of Virginia, Grover’s efforts were recognized, as the USTA-VA named her its annual Volunteer of the Year.

Grover began teaching tennis for the Department of Virginia Beach, while there, she created a tots tennis program.

In 1987, Grover became a certified teaching pro for the United States Professional Tennis

Association.

She has coached numerous national tennis teams, copyrighted a tennis coloring book, and written and hosted a tennis show on cable television.

Her tennis resume also includes serving on numerous USTA Virginia and Mid-Atlantic committees.

While head tennis professional at a country club, and coaching high school tennis she won the 1990 Mid-Atlantic Professional Tennis Association High School Coach of the Year. In 1992, Grover won the USTA Schools Program Teacher of the Year Award.

She has also taught tennis for Special Olympics, and handicapped children.

Prince Sports sponsors Grover who also won the 1993 USTA-VA Outstanding Service Award. Grover mostly spreads the gospel of tennis beyond the

Hampton Roads Area by writing for sports publications, which helped win her the 2002 USTA-VA Press Award.

&uot;With all the new technology, I don’t have to travel as much,&uot; Grover said. &uot;The state of Virginia is so large, most meetings are held via

conference calls with committee chairs, committee members and staff.

E-mail has also sped up the process of communication.

Not too many people love what they do, but I can say, I love my work.

&uot;I helped to promote Beach Tennis USA in Virginia Beach, a new sport that combines beach volleyball and tennis, and helped to promote the tennis channel.&uot;

Grover also attended the U.S. Open in New York to keep up with

the latest tennis information.

&uot;I guess you could call me a tennis addict, I have become a tennis collector too.

I love the history of tennis, the old books and especially the wooden rackets.&uot;

Grover adds &uot;Tennis has been good to my family; it is a healthy lifestyle and lifetime sport.

Two of our three children have or are playing tennis in college on a tennis scholarship, while our youngest hopes to play in college.

It has been a great way to spend time together; practicing, playing or watching them play in tournaments.

It has afforded all of us to travel, and to meet nice people.

For all our children’s hard work; I believe tennis improved their time management skills, goal setting and self confidence while letting them experience success.&uot;

In 1992 and 2004 the Grovers won the USTA Virginia Tennis Association Family of the Year, in 1994 they won the USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Association Family of the Year, and in 1996 they won the Virginia Tennis Association Family of the Year.

&uot;Tennis has its perks too,&uot; Grover said. &uot;My family has had the opportunity to meet many tennis celebrities&uot;.

On Nov. 10, Grover presented USTA-VA Organization of the Year Award to the Achievable Dream Association in Newport News.

&uot;I was honored that she was asked to present the award,&uot; she said. &uot;I consider it a privilege, and a chance in a lifetime.&uot;