John Powless

John Dale Powless (August 24, 1932 – May 20, 2021) was an American basketball and tennis player and coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a player on the international senior tennis circuit.

Tennis career Powless was born and raised in Flora, Illinois, and played on the Flora High School basketball, tennis and football teams, where he won the State tournament in tennis his senior year, the only person to have done so below Decatur, a record still held to this day. He received a Basketball Scholarship to the University of Michigan with an agreement to play tennis. After one semester he left and went to Murray State University and graduated in 1956. He played basketball and tennis and still ranks among the school's all-time greats in both sports. He was one of five charter members in Murray State's Hall of Fame, which was originated in 1957. During his eight years at Wisconsin, he compiled a record of 88–108. His best team was his 1973–74 team, which posted a record of 16–8 and had future NBA center Kim Hughes on its roster. He resigned on February 11, 1976 during a Badgers' 14‐game losing streak and was replaced by Bill Cofield one month later on March 16.

Later tennis career After his career at Wisconsin, Powless owned and operated the John Powless Tennis Center in Madison, Wisconsin. He was a basketball and tennis TV analyst and played tennis on the international senior circuit. He also won numerous national and international tennis competitions, including a 1999 U.S. Senior Open singles title.

During the peak of his tennis playing ability in the 1950s he and his father attempted and succeeded in conquering the national clay court Father and Son championships (U.S.) following through to win five consecutive national clay court Father and Son doubles titles. Concurring that he achieved this in the 1950s by winning the Father and Son National Title five consecutive years with his father K.O. Cecil Powless.

John started his career in ITF by earning a number one ranking in singles and doubles for men age 55 and older. The record for consecutive number of years held in age divisions of ITF is held by John, thus placing him as possibly contending for the spot of the greatest tennis player of all time if one uses this ranking method. He has also held a #1 ranking in two age divisions at the same time, several times in his ITF career. John was ranked as the world's number one singles player for 80 and over. Previous to this, in 75 and over, he held on to his #1 ranking despite the fact that he had had both knees replaced; one in 2007 and the other in 2008.

John Powless was featured in a 2016 tennis documentary Gold Balls, directed by Kate Dandel, and a 2023 documentary about super senior tennis players: Silver Servers directed by Dan Lobb.

Awards In addition to induction into the Murray State University Hall of Fame (1957), Powless is a member of the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame (2002) as well as the State of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (2009). He was a 2000 inductee into the USTA/Midwest Tennis Hall of Fame. He was an honorary member of 22 different nations’ tennis associations and was named U.S. “Senior Tennis Player of the Millennium” in 1999.

Team USA Captain Emeritus (for the Gordon Trophy, 2013)

Dubla Cup Champion 1981 (Seniors 'Davis Cup'- U.S.A. team member, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Head coaching record