Serving up Caldwell

Adrian Byrd remembers making those frequent walks up the sidewalk towards the Martin Luther King Center. Everyone in the neighborhood recognized the youngster by the large tennis bag slung over his shoulder, the one that seemingly walked itself up the street. He recalls the times when he'd arrive, the mornings when he'd have to sweep the courts clean from dog fights the previous night. He couldn't play until the blood was gone.

"I'd clean it up with brooms," Byrd says. "It was just one more thing to persevere through."

Thanks to that perseverance, underprivileged kids from around Lenoir can now come to the MLK Center and learn Byrd's beloved sport on clean courts. And they gain a perspective from a man who was once in their same shoes.

"(My family) had no money and no transportation, but I still found a way to play tennis," says Byrd. "Now I can provide that same outlet for these kids."

Byrd is partnering with the MLK Center to offer free lessons for children every Wednesday morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

"We just wanted to have a kick start for the summer," Byrd says.

It's a long way from the early days when Byrd would whack tennis balls back and forth from racquet to wall, racquet to wall.

Byrd first learned the game when he was 10-years-old from his grandmother, Marian Patterson, and his passion steadily grew. He went on to play tennis for Hibriten High School, then attended Lees-McRae College (where he played both basketball and tennis). He also went to North Carolina A&T, concentrating his efforts on the tennis courts. Following college, Byrd began a tennis program in Indiana. Now, he is looking at the long-term by bringing his love for the sport back to his hometown.

"My goal is getting kids interested in sports besides football or basketball," he says. "(Tennis) used to be big around here... and I want to help ignite it again in Lenoir."

It is no surprise, then, that one of Byrd's heroes was similarly philanthropic.

"I idolized Arthur Ashe," he says. "Not only for tennis, but for his political stance against apartheid. It was his grace and his sportsmanship."

Ashe, a standout African-American tennis player, is also remembered for his fight against various social injustices.

Byrd learned from Ashe that tennis lessons can extend beyond the baselines of the court.

"Tennis can provide an outlet to teach you to believe in yourself and respect others," he says.

Byrd thought the best way to support a growth of interest in tennis would be to host free lessons at the courts where he grew up learning the game, for any kids interested.

"It was his idea to try and give back to tennis and give back to the community," said MLK Center director Lester Whittington, who played basketball with Byrd as a child.

Every Wednesday morning, Byrd instructs the kids through cardiovascular workouts, fundamental drills and games. But most importantly, he says he gets the children aware of tennis and all that the game has to offer, from the etiquette to the competition.

"Most of the kids I deal with have no idea what tennis really is," Byrd said. "They pick up a racquet and their eyes light up."

Byrd is a Professional Tennis Registry licensed tennis professional. He makes a living teaching kids the game he loves because he never had that same opportunity.

"I couldn't afford a formal lesson," he said. "Because of that, I want to give others a chance to have that experience. Everyone has a gift and I feel that I should share my gift (of teaching tennis)... Life is about passing on."

In addition to his lessons, Byrd helmed the MLK Center's "Tennis Fun Day" on Saturday, June 28. A total of 18 children were in attendance for a day filled with tennis and arts and crafts. The event was sponsored by Wilson, who gave out free T-shirts and racquets. In addition to learning tennis skills, the kids learned a history of the sport and received Domino's pizza to round out the day.

Byrd just wants the community to give tennis a shot because it has helped him so much in his life.

"All of Lenoir has been good to me," he says. "I just want people to think, 'Hey, why not tennis? Let's try it out."

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