CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Lee College says its group is mourning the lack of “cherished coach, college member, and buddy” Kay McDaniel, who handed away simply because the campus was getting ready for the spring semester.
McDaniel served because the coach of Lee College’s tennis groups and a professor of well being science. Earlier than her educational profession, she performed skilled tennis, rating at one level within the prime 40 on the planet in tennis singles and in addition a prime 20 world rating in doubles, enjoying in opposition to the likes of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf.
A launch from Lee College says she was famend for conducting free tennis clinics each summer season on the college for over 30 years.
Kay was an unforgettable particular person, with distinctive abilities and the true coronary heart of a champion,” mentioned Lee President Paul Conn in a message to the Lee household. “In the present day we’re thanking God that we knew her.
Lee College’s launch says McDaniel’s ardour for tennis started at age 11, when she collected 5,000 Inexperienced Stamps to acquire her first tennis racquet.
Her mom sewed her tennis garments till she was 15, when her achievements earned her sponsorships from prime manufacturers like Fila, Tail, and Nike.
She was ranked primary within the nation as an newbie and performed the primary place for Louisiana State College.
McDaniel realized her dream of competing in tennis’ Grand Slams for six years, going through legendary gamers resembling Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf. She reached the highest 35 on the planet in singles and held a prime 20 world rating in doubles.
After retiring from skilled tennis, McDaniel joined Lee College in 1991 as a tennis coach and school member. She quickly started providing the clinics that bore her identify, sharing her love of tennis and religion with hundreds of younger individuals over time.
Lee College says regardless of affected by extreme well being points and retiring from instructing a number of years in the past, McDaniel continued her clinics, enlisting over 40 teacher assistants to offer a wonderful expertise for 400 contributors every summer season.
Earlier than her thirty first and last clinic in 2023, McDaniel mentioned,
“Not solely do these contributors study to play a sport that may final a lifetime, however they study that God’s everlasting love lasts longer than a lifetime.”
A memorial service for McDaniel will probably be held on Saturday, January eleventh, at Companion Funeral Residence sanctuary.
The service will start at 4:00 p.m., preceded by a visitation interval from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Reverend Kevin Mendel and Dr. Paul Conn will officiate.
