“Together, we make things happen.”
CATS current president Bill Himmelmann wrote that in an email to the board members following the wonderfully successful party celebrating CATS’ fiftieth anniversary held on April 28, 2019 at the Corinthian Yacht Club. Eighty-five CATS members, alums and guests celebrated CATS birthday with great food, fast-flowing adult beverages, dancing, photos of what we used to look like, and, of course, birthday cake–plus the announcement that Chicago Advertising Tennis Society would become Chicago Area Tennis Society as of 9/1/19 to better reflect who we are today.
All the 2017-2019 board members and the Social Committee contributed to the success of the evening but especially Jo Ellen Reed for making the arrangements with the yacht club and overseeing the food; Bob Henze for tending bar; and Joyce Weber for the decorations.
The officers at the time of the party were:
President: Bill Himmelmann
Vice-President: Michael Fox
Treasurer: Carolyn Popp
Secretary: Joyce Weber
The coordinators were:
League: Jo Ellen Reed
Open Division: Bob Henze
A Division: Karen Topp
B Division: Karen Brach
C Division: Meg Givhan
The directors were:
Membership Chairman: Dave Herd
Social Committee Chair: Jim Vahey
Director of Communications: Meg Givhan
Board Members at Large: Lina Chaves
Past President: Christine Frank
Historian: John Wagner
CATS members have been working together to make things happen since the club was started in 1969. CATS’ early years had some challenges but, fortunately, the club founders figured out how to make it all work. As a result, not only have members played tens of thousands of games of tennis over the years, but lifelong friendships have formed and romances have blossomed.
This special section of catstennis.org brings together articles and reminiscences about CATS history, photos from the party and a video of the remarks, including the historic announcement that, effective September 1, 2019, the name Chicago Advertising Tennis Society would be changed to Chicago Area Tennis Society to accurately reflect who we are today.
Favorite CATS Moments from longtime members (collected for CATS’ 45th anniversary)
CATS Turns 50, Isn’t that Nifty! by John Wagner, CATS Historian
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- Anne Brodley, Maria Willmer
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- Bob Henze, man at work.
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- Brian Kaye, Joyce Weber and a very large tennis ball!
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- Mark Jones, Joyce Weber in foreground
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- Dennis Hoelzle and guest
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- Judith and Dave Herd
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- Erica Heatwole and guest Angela
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- Fred Heilizer, Carolyn Popp, Alan Engel
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- Carole Gibb, Maria Willmer, Meg Givhan, Joanie Jones, Bob Henze
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- Joanie Jones, Meg Givhan, Bob Henze strangling Kubrat Vrachanski (KV), Mark Jones
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- Joanie Jones, Maria Willmer, Meg Givhan, Jack Keehma, Helen d’Assatouroff, Peggy Harrison, Elba Rodriguez, Mark Jones, Jim Emrick
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- Jack Keehma, Helen d’Assatouroff
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- Elba Rodriguez, Helen d’Assatouroff, Jack Keehma
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- Jon Sollberger, Meg Givhan
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- Jim Emrick, George Ahlgrim, Mike Sweeney
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- John Lemm and guest Shirley Lateano
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- Mark Jones, Joanie Jones, Carole Gibb
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- Jo Ellen Reed
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- Jim Vahey, Peggy Harrison greeting Terry Schnoll
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- Jim Vahey, Peggy Harrison
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- Karen Brach, Diane and Alan Johnson
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- Bill Himmelmann and guest Linda
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- Chuck Freidl, Richard Cobb, Michael Fox
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- Mark Jones, Sue Ondas, Young Park
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- Maria Willmer, Maria Lopez, Meg Givhan
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- Susan McKenna, Karen Hirsch, Carole Gibb, Bill James
