Thay Butchee’s tennis career is a remarkable journey of passion, dedication, and skill. From his early days in Shreveport, LA., to becoming a renowned senior tennis competitor, Butchee’s path has been paved with exceptional achievements.
In 1958, Butchee’s tennis journey began at Fairpark High School in Shreveport, where he formed a formidable partnership with future U.S. Open quarterfinalist Andy Lloyd. Together, they clinched the state double championship, laying the foundation for Butchee’s future success.
At Louisiana Tech from 1959 to 1962, Butchee excelled as the university’s top singles player for three consecutive years. In 1962, his leadership guided the team to the Gulf State Conference championship, and he claimed both the individual singles and doubles titles.
After serving the United States Marine Corps, Butchee became the head tennis pro at Lakewood Country Club in St. Petersburg in 1966. Here, he dedicated himself to developing a junior tennis program that produced numerous standout college and professional players, shaping the careers of promising talents through his coaching and mentorship.
In 1970, Butchee took on a new challenge as the head tennis pro at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, a position he held for an impressive 41 years until his retirement in 2011. During his tenure, his students achieved rankings at the city, state, sectional, national, collegiate, and world levels, and she served as the tournament director for the Boys 16 nationals during its 20-year run at BMCC.
As he transitioned into the senior tennis circuit, Butchee continued to shine as a fierce competitor. He won nine United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR) singles and four doubles championships. He was ranked #1 by the Southern Tennis Association (STA) in his age division seven times and was a member of five winning Southern Senior Cup Championship teams.
Butchee’s talents extended to the international stage, where he represented the U.S. in prestigious events like the Columbus Trophy + La Carreta, organized by the Royal International Lawn-Tennis Club of Belgium. He also earned selection and was a multi-time participant in the Dubler Cup, the world team championship, and The Stevens Cup, America’s championships, with his teams emerging as champions each year.
Under the direction of tennis professional Thay Butchee, Belle Meade Country Club hosted the Boys 16 & Under National Clay Court Tennis Championship for 20 consecutive years- from 1976 through 1995. In the field each year were 128 of the finest junior players in the country including such future stars as the world’s number 1 player, Jim Courier, and Michael Chang, at the age of 17, the youngest male player in the world to win a major championship- the French Open in 1989.
With 2,560 of our country’s top junior players coming to Nashville during this 20-year period, much attention was brought to our city and the state of Tennessee. In hosting this event for 20 years, Nashville holds the record in the state of Tennessee for hosting the most National Championships in a major sport.
Thay Butchee’s tennis journey serves as an inspiration to players of all ages. His dedication to the sport and his passion for teaching and mentoring have left an indelible mark on the world of tennis. As a fierce competitor and a guiding force for emerging talents, he has left a lasting legacy in the sport he loves.