Modlin, Jones to be honored with memorial garden
Published 2:33 pm Saturday, September 27, 2014
It’s been a long time since the Pam Pack graced the four hard-surface courts at Park Drive and Charlotte Street.
Today, the hallowed ground that once housed some of the greatest Washington players to ever wield a racket has seen its days — the color faded, the playing surface strewn with cracks.
Years ago, the court was named in honor of two Washington tennis players — William Edgar Jones and Sam Stuart Modlin, a former No. 1 on the 1975 and ’76 team. Modlin went on to play at Atlantic Christian College (now known as Barton College) in Wilson, where he had much success under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Tom Parham, earning his degree in 1979. Jones, the No. 5 player on the tennis team, attended North Carolina State.
Jones and Modlin tragically died in separate car accidents and a memorial stone was placed near the courts in their memory.
A series of hurricanes over the course of several years has caused significant damage to the courts, leading to the removal of the commemorative stone.
Today, Washington tennis has a new home with six well-kept tennis courts, a fitting location to pay homage to Modlin and Jones. And head coach Miranda Whitley’s boys’ and girls’ teams have represented the Pam Pack name with pride.
Gray Hodges, who played with Jones and Modlin’s on the ’75 and ’76 team, has raised money to erect a new memorial, a garden, to honor his former teammates.
“We’re excited that we’re going to recognize them where they need to be — at the Washington tennis courts,” Hodges said.
In what Hodges considers a step up from its former setting, the garden is scattered with chamomile flowers, roses and pansies and a new stone will take the place of the old one. The memorial was constructed by Stuart Flanagan of Landscaping & Construction, Inc.
“They were great guys, good student athletes all around. They just had a bad accident,” Hodges said.
The ceremony for the memorial garden will take place prior to the Washington girls’ tennis team’s final regular season game against North Johnston on Thursday. Hodges and the families of Modlin and Jones will be a part of the presentation. Hodges expects over 60 people to attend the ceremony.
Thursday is also senior day for the Washington team. After a rough start to the season, the Pam Pack has posted a 6-2 record in conference play.