Guy Ike Garber

Guy S. “Ike” Garber Jr., a native of Saginaw, MI, was born on April 3, 1920. From 1935 to 1936, he attended Cranbrook Academy in Detroit where he developed a deep love for tennis. During his time there, Ike was ranked the #1 singles tennis player and was also a starter on the basketball team. From 1937 to 1938, Ike returned to Saginaw to attend Arthur Hill High School. He continued to excel in tennis, playing on the varsity team and winning the Class A State Tennis Singles Championship twice, during both his junior and senior seasons. After high school, Ike earned a scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida, where he became the #2 ranked tennis player, just behind Pancho Segura, a world-class athlete with whom he shared a close bond as a roommate. Ike and Pancho became best friends and tennis partners, and their teamwork led to victory in the Mid-Winter Doubles Championship in Florida in both 1942 and 1947. At the National Intercollegiate Championship in New Orleans, Ike and Pancho played doubles but lost to Jimmy Evert, the father of tennis legend Chris Evert. Throughout his competitive tennis career, Ike encountered many of the sport’s legends, including Pancho Gonzales, Jack Kramer, Gardner Malloy, Frankie Parker, Frank Shields, Bobby Riggs, Jimmy Connors, Lew Hoad, Andre Agassi, and Jimmy Evert. After college, Ike joined the Marines during World War II, where he met and befriended George Chang, China’s national tennis champion. Despite Chang’s impressive skills, he was no match for Ike. Upon returning from the war, Ike was determined to share his love of tennis with others. With the support of his father, Guy S. Garber Sr., and local civic leaders, the Garber Courts, a 12-court tennis complex near Ojibway Island, were established in 1950. This was among the first public courts available to locals. Many who followed grew up playing on these courts. Throughout his life, Ike played tennis and won numerous singles and doubles tournaments in Michigan and Nationally. These include the Saginaw Junior tournament champion in 1935 and 1936. While attending Cranbrook, his squad was named National Champions. In 1941 and 1942, he won the Florida Double championship. He also captured three consecutive Michigan State Men’s titles from 1947-1950. Ike’s passion for tennis led him to further promote the sport. In 1958, he invited his friends Pancho Segura and Lew Hoad to Saginaw for a tennis clinic and an exhibition match. Then, in 1971, Ike and Pancho Segura organized a charity tennis event in Saginaw, featuring an exhibition match with Jimmy Connors, Pancho Gonzales, and Alex Olmedo. Held at Delta College, the event drew 1,200 spectators and helped to further promote tennis in the area. Ike’s legacy lives on today and will for years to come with the help of Pharrington Douglass and Ken LeCureux and the newly rebuilt Garber Courts right here in Saginaw that you can play both Tennis and now the popular sport of Pickelball.