Denison University

The 2010 recipient of the Varsity D Association Athletic Citation for her stewardship of the sport of tennis is 1950 Denison graduate Janet Rettig French.

While a student at Denison, French was a member of the tennis, field hockey, basketball, softball, golf, swimming, and volleyball teams which were under the direction of longtime Director of Women’s Athletics, Helen Barr. She has gone on to devote over 50 years to the game of tennis as both a competitor and as a teacher. Highly involved at the local, sectional and national level, French has held various positions with the United States Tennis Association and in 2009 she received the Mel Bergman Award from the USTA’s Midwest Section for her 10+ years of service.

French was inducted into the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame. She served as the Chicago District Executive Director from 1976-90, actively promoting the game throughout the Midwest. French has played in numerous senior team championships, won a bronze ball in the 2003 USTA National Mother/Daughter Championships, and has represented the USTA on the senior intersectional team.