Charles McKinley

During his stellar career at Trinity from 1960-63, during which he went 48-2 in singles, Chuck McKinley never played in the NCAAs — because its schedule ran up against Wimbledon’s. He made sure his time away from his team was worth it. In 1961, McKinley reached the finals, losing to Rod Laver. Two years later, he won the championship without dropping a set. In doubles, McKinley and fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Ralston won three U.S. National doubles titles. McKinley also won two U.S. clay court titles and a pair of U.S. indoor championships. In 1963, McKinley helped the U.S. squad win the Davis Cup final against Australia, most notably defeating John Newcombe in four sets. In 1965, at just 24 years of age, McKinley retired from tennis to join a brokerage firm. He developed brain cancer in 1985 and died the following year at age 45, a month after being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In his New York Times obituary, the 5-foot-8 McKinley was described as “the toughest little guy with the sweetest nature I’ve ever known.”