By Scoop Malinowski | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 5, 2025
Picture credit score: Scoop Malinowski
Eighty-six years earlier than Jannik Sinner’s rise to World No. 1, one other highly effective red-headed champion accomplished tennis’ inconceivable dream.
American Don Budge made historical past as the primary champion—man or lady—to finish the calendar Grand Slam in his wonderful 1938 season. It was an outstanding feat from a public parks participant from Oakland, California that modified tennis ceaselessly. The time period “Grand Slam” was created due to Don Budge’s main season sweep.
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When you’ve ever visited the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, it’s possible you’ll know one of many Newport-based Corridor’s most treasured treasures is the life-sized oil portray of Don Budge hitting his iconic backhand that hangs on the wall.
That is the story of how artist, artwork teacher and tennis coach James Gwynne created the famed oil portray—and the deep friendship he fashioned with Budge.
A few years in the past I found an astounding reality which then led to a sequence of insights into tennis historical past.
Lunch with a childhood pal Drew Murray at his regulation workplace revealed that considered one of our neighbors again within the Nineteen Seventies, the daddy of Jennifer and Jeannette—an artwork teacher and tennis coach James Gwynne—really painted the Don Budge portray that hangs within the media room on the Worldwide Corridor of Fame.
The portray is a masterpiece.
Corridor of Famer Don Budge cracks his iconic backhand. Picture credit score: Wikimedia Commons
The Budge portrait is so arresting I photographed it one 12 months at Newport whereas reporting on the Corridor of Fame Championships and included it on my Don Budge Biofile publish.
However there’s extra, by way of the method of portray Don Budge, James Gwynne turned pricey pals with the previous Grand Slam champion in his twilight years dwelling in Japanese Pennsylvania.
I expressed an curiosity to attach with Mr. Gwynne for some insights into his distinctive friendship with J. Donald Budge, which was shortly organized by an e-mail correspondence.
Although I’ve no reminiscences of Mr. Gwynne as a child regardless of dwelling two homes down Vreeland Street in West Milford, he was one of many first individuals in my life who was linked to tennis. I keep in mind his daughters, Jennifer and Jeannette each performed, however by no means really noticed them play.
James Gwynne was variety to share his reminiscences of Don Budge with me earlier than he handed away on New Yr’s Eve on the age of 89.
That is the story, within the artist’s personal phrases, of how he got here to color Don Budge’s portrait, and the friendship they shared.
Artist James Gwynne’s Reminiscences of Corridor of Famer Don Budge
James Gwynne: For positive, Don Budge was a gutsy man. One in every of my favorites is when somebody would come as much as him and say, “I’m so and so.” Budge would say, “That’s your downside.” He rubbed some individuals the improper manner, however I accepted him as he was, a colossal world determine who earned each proper to be himself. However first a bit of background. I began tennis after I completed my PhD at age 30, and have become immediately hooked. I had by no means had a lot success with sports activities all my life, however I discovered it in tennis. I’ve a bunch of trophies to show it and was employed unlicensed to be a instructing professional at Panther Valley for a pair years till we moved to West Milford. I parted with my daughters once they have been of their twenties and constructed a home in East Stroudsburg the place I’ve been for 35 years. I met a participant from Dingman’s Ferry who had his personal tennis courtroom and sooner or later after I arrived, Don Budge was standing on the courtroom. I acknowledged him instantly and inside minutes we have been taking part in doubles. When it was my flip to serve, I intentionally served to his backhand which I knew was well-known, and positive sufficient he hit a winner previous me. I believe he was round 74 or 75. We turned good pals instantly and my longtime pal, Marielaine and I, socialized regularly with him and his spouse Loriel at their dwelling In Dingman’s Ferry and traveled with them to Newport and Wimbledon.
James Gwynne: Throughout considered one of our get-togethers I believe I should have requested Don if he had any portraits carried out and he mentioned he did have one but it surely burned up in a hearth. With out hesitation I mentioned that I’d do one. He jumped on it however mentioned it couldn’t be small just like the little statue of Fred Perry at Wimbledon. So I mentioned I’d do a life-sized portrait. So I started the challenge in my studio and obtained some black and white images from the web. Like a statue, I wished simply him and no individuals like spectators, and so on. And, I wished to indicate him hitting his well-known backhand. It took me a few month to do the portray and after I thought I used to be completed I invited Don and Loriel to come back to the home and see it. I hung the portray on my lounge wall and coated it with a sheet for the dramatic unveiling they usually sat on the sofa for the presentation. After I pulled the sheet away they gasped in delight, however Loriel mentioned,“His hair was a lot redder.” So, again to the studio went the portray and in a few week I confirmed them the fastened portray. They cherished it, however Don mentioned, “It’s too massive, let’s give it to the Corridor of Fame.” I used to be delighted by that, and someday later we drove to Newport with me following them with the portray in an enormous crate on my truck. They should have known as the Corridor of Fame as a result of we have been greeted by workmen who took the portray immediately to the Museum. The following day we offered the portray to the Board of Trustees, together with Stan Smith, Bud Collins, Tony Trabert. Don launched me as his Dingman’s Ferry doubles companion (Ha ha) and I nervously gave a bit of speech, saying, “possibly I ought to have painted extra colourful pants like Bud Collins would put on (small laughter).” Anyway, the portray was graciously accepted and hung within the museum immediately. I ought to add it helped outline my relationship with Don higher. From then on he launched me because the artist who did the portrait, which made me extra comfy as a result of I’m positive individuals questioned who I used to be, all the time with Budge.
James Gwynne: 1998 marked the sixtieth Anniversary of Budge’s Grand Slam and he was honored on the Wimbledon Championships the place he sat within the Royal field in the course of the event. He invited me, Marielaine, and Lee Miller to come back. We joined them the second week of the event, and poor Don had been within the hospital in London the primary week resulting from some sort of sickness, so he was fairly weak and required my help together with a wheelchair to get round. After all he didn’t pay our bills, however the perks have been implausible. He obtained us nice seats for the the matches all week by way of the finals of each women and men. We have been chauffeured every morning from our lodge to Wimbledon by way of the gates and the crowds of individuals.
We additionally obtained to satisfy celebrities within the venues on the grounds the place they served strawberries and cream. I keep in mind assembly Jack Nicholson and Chevy Chase who have been massive tennis followers. At one level photographers wished an image of Don with the statue of Fred Perry, so I helped Don get to the sculpture and the photographers requested me to maneuver away. I mentioned, “However, he would possibly fall,” they usually mentioned to have him cling on to the sculpture, which he did, they usually obtained their images.
We attended the normal Championship banquet which was very particular (Novotna and Sampras gained that 12 months and have been current). Tracy Austin got here to our desk and requested me to take her image with Budge, which I did, and he or she gave me her handle to ship it to her.
James Gwynne: I had a thrill of a lifetime on Saturday, April 24, 1999. Adidas and the New York Yankees honored Don Budge by inviting him to the sport to pay tribute for his many tennis achievements. As a result of Don wanted assist in strolling I pushed him in a wheel chair down an elevator and alongside the corridors of Yankee Stadium. We waited within the dugout earlier than the ceremony sitting subsequent to Joe Torre and catcher Joe Girardi within the dugout.
When the second earlier than the sport arrived I assisted Don onto the sector and stood with him because the tribute was revamped the loudspeakers by Bob Sheppard, Yankee announcer. Yankee pitcher “El Duque”, Orlando Hernandez, got here out of the dugout, representing the Yankees, and offered Don with an autographed baseball and shook Don’s hand and mine. After that we loved the sport from a particular field.
Throughout my “fifteen minutes of fame” I attempted to soak up each element of this hallowed territory from the grass to the dugout, to the stands with applauding gamers and followers, pondering all of the whereas of Lou Gehrig’s well-known remarks from this very spot that he was the “luckiest man” on the planet!
So as to add to the story, Budge mentioned he was invited one other time to Yankee Stadium for a house run contest with stars for different sports activities, and he mentioned he was the one one to hit a house run!
James Gwynne: Budge wished to satisfy up with outdated pal [Baseball Hall of Famer] Bob Feller who was signing balls at Skylands baseball sport (in Newton, NJ in 1996). So we went and loved the sport in Feller’s field. Feller ate a number of scorching canine which he mentioned he all the time cherished (me too) and signed two balls for me and my brother Jack (Tremendous Indian fan). I gave Feller a cartoon (hooked up) which Feller mentioned he would put in his Iowa Museum. Budge knew everyone and vice versa. Feller additionally cherished vehicles and Budge particularly cherished this one. It slid off the snowy street on that fateful day in 2000.
James Gwynne: Don had the each morning ritual of driving to Milford, about 20 miles spherical journey to his favourite breakfast on the menu: The Don Budge particular, bacon and eggs. That snowy morning his Caddie slid off the street and crashed. He was airlifted to a hospital and later, undecided what number of days, he died in a facility in Scranton. I visited him within the hospital and he was comatose. Loriel and his sons have been there. It was within the information and when he was within the hospital, Bud Collins known as me for a report on his situation.
It was unhappy and preventable, however that was Budge, fearless and cussed in so many good methods. He was 85.
Loriel requested me to do his eulogy at a memorial service in Milford later. Some USTA workers have been current. There was a luncheon afterwards and off the household went together with his ashes, which they nearly forgot. His burial place on Wikipedia is “Unknown.”
SM: Which gamers did Don Budge actually like, of any eras, and which not a lot? I do know Jack Kramer all the time talked very favorably about Don Budge.
James Gwynne: He had criticism for nearly each participant I introduced up together with Sampras who he actually favored, however mentioned he caught out his elbow on his forehand!? Nonetheless, he cherished Vines and mentioned he was the most effective, and he actually favored his opponent Baron Gottfried Von Cramm, saying he was such a gentleman and nice sportsman. I keep in mind on the 1998 Wimbledon he mentioned his mom may beat Ivanisevic, who misplaced to Sampras in 5 units within the closing. I had the uncommon alternative of taking part in singles with my pal on his courtroom in Dingman’s Ferry with Budge watching.
After all I used to be nervous however amazed that this was taking place. He didn’t supply any recommendation or criticism for me, however confirmed my opponent his well-known grip for the backhand, which tremendously improved his sport from then on (dammit). I used that have typically, pretending that Budge was watching, and it helped me deal with good kind after I was taking part in.
SM: Did he coach any gamers? What occurred to all of his trophies which amounted to nicely over a thousand he informed me in his Biofile.
James Gwynne: No, I don’t keep in mind him speaking about teaching any particular participant, however wherever we went gamers sought him out to speak and say hiya. He was actually a God of the game. As for trophies, that’s one other story. They requested me to come back to the home and take down trophies from cabinets in every single place. He offered rather a lot to the Tennis Corridor of Fame for $50,000, I keep in mind, a lot to the chagrin of his sons.
SM: Did he speak about his matches? Why did he consider Ellsworth Vines was the easiest?
James Gwynne: He simply thought Vines had all of the strokes to beat anybody, and he did. He was the “King: earlier than Budge. Budge talked rather a lot about his matches, particularly one the place his opponent fainted after a grueling five-setter. He claimed to have crushed Rod Laver in an exhibition match after Laver had gained his first Grand Slam. He lamented that in retirement everybody wished to play and possibly beat him, however he by no means backed off. He claimed too that when he performed they did prepare onerous, particularly aboard ships touring to tennis tournaments around the globe – they jogged and lifted weights, and so on. and ate steak. He couldn’t eat steak anymore after I knew him.
Plus, he mentioned he by no means drank till he retired, however he positive made up for that after I knew him. He cherished champagne, adopted by Vodka tonics, and winding up with Brandy. For sure I had hassle maintaining and Loriel would inform me to not let him have extra, however I used to be within the center and couldn’t cease him. I helped put him to mattress a number of occasions!
Corridor of Famer Don Budge (left) poses with famed oil portray of himself. Artist James Gwynne (proper) stands subsequent to the portray. Picture credit score: Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame & James Gwynne Property
SM: Unimaginable how one portray and a connection advanced into such a particular friendship with so many fantastic experiences.
James Gwynne: A few of my finest advantages from figuring out Don Budge got here from touring with him and Loriel to occasions on the Corridor of Fame, particularly on the annual induction weekends. I obtained to satisfy so many well-known gamers resembling Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Navratilova, and others. They all the time approached him to pay their respects and he launched me because the artist who painted his portrait.
I’ll always remember McEnroe on his knees with considered one of his little youngsters at Budge’s toes within the lodge and later that night time after the banquet, sitting with John’s father and brother in a bar having beer and John, in fact, was speaking rather a lot.
I requested his father if he all the time talked that a lot and he mentioned, “Sure, he’s by no means shut up since he was born.”
One other time we have been having dinner on the lodge and the good Aussie gamers, Rafter, Newcombe, and Roche got here to our desk to say hiya. On the induction ceremonies I obtained to take a seat with Budge, Bud Collins – who all the time known as me “The Painter”, particularly after I purchased his massive guide – and different dignitaries.
I as soon as sat subsequent to Pancho Sequra and requested him why he stopped teaching Jimmy Connors, and he mentioned, “As a result of the SOB wouldn’t pay me sufficient!” One other particular time was in Boston the place the Davis Cup was performed one 12 months. Budge had hassle strolling so with numerous assist they obtained him and his wheelchair up a variety of stairs to a field to view the tennis. It didn’t take lengthy for him to get irritated with the fixed drum beating near us, a practice in Davis Cup play. So, in fact, the assistance arrived to get him again down and into an air conditioned tent the place rather a lot have been watching on TV. At night time there was a banquet for most of the former Wimbledon Champions, all carrying their purple and inexperienced ties. Boy, did I really feel misplaced, however cherished witnessing this particular gathering, and even had a number of phrases with some, together with Jack Kramer, whose signature Wilson racquet I and everybody else used at the moment!
Anyway, possibly you possibly can admire the elite and glamorous atmosphere a “no one like me” was thrust into due to my well-known tennis pal; in all probability the best present an abnormal tennis participant may have.
SM: Did Don have any fierce rivals like McEnroe with Lendl and Connors and Pete and Andre, possibly a bit of grudge with any gamers?
James Gwynne: I don’t keep in mind Don Budge saying he didn’t like anybody. He as soon as mentioned he by no means met an Aussie he didn’t like.
One other enjoyable factor he mentioned was as soon as when he was practising, Fred Astaire confirmed as much as watch and later informed Budge he was so swish…they usually ended up dancing collectively on the tennis courtroom!
SM: Did you see any trace of Don’s aggressive hearth and spirit even in his 70s and 80s?
James Gwynne: Not likely apart from his pure spitfire character. He typically mentioned he performed a variety of guys in retirement who simply wished to say they took a set off or beat Don Budge.
He was content material in figuring out he had nothing to show however loved taking part in.
