Obituary: J. Howard 'Bumpy' Frazer
The International Tennis Federation is saddened to learn of the passing of J. Howard ‘Bumpy’ Frazer, former USTA President and former Vice-President and honorary life counsellor of the ITF. He died on 27 January 2021 at the age of 96.
A longtime USTA volunteer, Frazer was instrumental in the development of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center when it succeeded Flushing Meadows as the home of the US Open in 1978. He was elected USTA President from 1993 to 1994, a time that saw the nation record a tennis membership of half a million for the first time, and oversaw the construction of the $300 million Arthur Ashe Stadium during his ten-year tenure on the USTA Board of Directors.
Frazer was also an active supporter of player development initiatives in the United States, serving as co-chairman of the Player Development committee alongside Arthur Ashe, a role he built on as president with the opening of the USTA Player Development headquarters in Florida.
Following his tenure as USTA president, Frazer served as a vice-president of the ITF and chair of the ITF Seniors Committee and sat on the board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame for more than two decades.
Frazer received the ITF Award for Services to the Game in 1998, and in 2003 he became the first American to receive the ITF/International Tennis Hall of Fame Golden Achievement Award. It is presented annually to a person who has made significant contributions internationally to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion, or education, and who has devoted long and outstanding service to the sport.
International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty said: “During my time as President of the USTA, Bumpy would offer his counsel and advice with kindness and diplomacy, and he wished me well with my own bid to become ITF President. His lifelong service to tennis was rightfully recognised by the USTA, ITF and International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us at the ITF, are with his family, friends and former colleagues at this sad time.”