Barton College will award Parham its 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award during the school's homecoming festivities.
Retired Elon University tennis coach Tom Parham, a 1963 graduate of Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, has been selected to receive the 2015 Barton College Distinguished Alumni Award. He will be recognized during Barton’s 2015 Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 23-25.
The lifelong North Carolinian retired from coaching in 2004, the same year he was awarded the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor. As a college tennis coach, Parham amassed a lifetime record of 597 wins and 195 losses and has been inducted into 10 athletic halls of fame. His teams from two different schools collectively won three national championships, and he was selected National Tennis Coach of the Year four times. For his service to collegiate tennis and his achievements in the sport, Parham was named to North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1979.
While at Elon, Parham held the titles of associate professor in health and physical education (1985-2004), assistant director of athletics (1986-1991), associate director of athletics (1991-99) and director of tennis operations (1999-2004). Earlier this year, he authored his second book, “The Little Green Book of Tennis,” in which he shares winning techniques learned from mentors and observations from his own five decades helping others enjoy the sport.
Established to honor alumni who have given outstanding service to Barton College and who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the areas of civic, religious and/or professional life, the Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest award given to a Barton College alumnus/a.