San Diego Tennis Hall of Famer and former USC standout Jim Perley has passed away at the age of 87, USTASoCal has learned.
Mr. Perley, of Coronado, competed well into his 70s after taking up the game as a youngster. A high school tennis star in Ventura, Mr. Perley earned a tennis scholarship at the University of Southern California and helped guide the Trojans to three NCAA finals in the early 1950s, capturing the national crown in 1955.
Described by La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club President Bill Kellogg as “an engineer (who) carves people up out there,” Mr. Perley amassed more than 30 gold balls throughout his illustrious career, and represented the United States in countless competitions on the ITF World circuit from Belgium to Austria to Uruguay.
“I started playing tennis when I was 12,” Mr. Perley once said. “I wasn’t very good, but through the years, I improved. It’s a game for a lifetime.”
In his first ever national senior competition, playing in the 45s division, Mr. Perley’s storied run ended by serving four straight aces to tally his first championship. Later, he ranked atop the Men’s 65s for a whopping 27 consecutive months.
“Through the years,” Mr. Perley said, “my love for the game has never wavered.”
In 2008, the Coronado Eagle & Journal reported on Mr. Perley’s San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame induction, recounting a marvelous story from Mr. Perley’s days as a proud USC alum.
“During the 1970s, the University of Southern California would host the USC/All-star matches annually at the Hotel del Coronado with great local fanfare. Legendary tennis coach George Toley (who led USC to 10 NCAA team titles and directed Mexico in the Davis Cup) would bring his current team to Coronado to play against the USC alumni, or ‘old guys,’ as they were often referred to. The purpose officially was to give his kids experience and exposure, but it was also a perk they all looked forward to.
“Many Coronadans remember the year Perley had to face Hans Gildemeister, the hot young player (and heart-throb) from Chile. As the double-jointed Perley walked onto the court, Gildemeister could be heard assuring his entourage of attractive young women that this match would soon be over. Gildemeister, with hair flowing below his shoulders and shorts that today would be considered risque, confidently served and came to net. Perley flicked a lopspin lob that landed on the baseline and Gildemeister didn’t smile again the rest of the match. Perley proceeded to methodically take the young player apart one game at a time to the cheers of a steadily growing crowd of old-timers at the Hotel Del.”
Services for Mr. Perley have not yet been announced.