Annual Tennis Tournament set to take place June 4-6

SIKESTON -- The 14th Annual Ed Nunnelee Memorial Tennis Tournament, which last year drew 155 participants from seven states, has been scheduled for June 4-6 with the junior division beginning on June 4 and the adult tournament starting June 5.

The tournament will be held at the tennis courts located at the Sikeston High School and Sikeston Country Club while other courts will be used in the early rounds of the tournament.

The tournament has added several new sponsors this year including Advertising Graphic and Design Services owned by Lin Roberts, who designed the T-shirt logo for 2004.

"Lin did a great job on the shirt design this year," said Tom Nunnelee, tournament chairperson.

Other new sponsors include the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, Edward Jones and the Joe Recker State Farm Life Insurance Agency.

"Joe Recker is providing specially designed State Farm hand towels, that include our tennis tournament name, that will be given to all of the players who enter the tournament this year. Edward Jones' financial consultants, Judy Hobbs and Justin Martini also have added their support to the tournament as sponsors. Edward Jones handles the Ed Nunnelee Scholarship Foundation Investment Funds. I am also very pleased to have the Sikeston Jaycees and the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo support as a sponsor," Nunnelee added.

The other sponsors, all of whom were part of the previous tournaments include: Pepsi Bottling Company, Noranda Aluminum, Sikeston/Miner Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hahs Machine Works, Pullen Brothers Trucking, Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, First State Bank and Trust Company, Montgomery Bank, US Bank, Union Planters Bank, Rodchester's Delicatessen, Danny's Place, Mitchell Insurance, Sabona, The Copper Wristband, Media Consultants, the Standard Democrat and KFVS-12 in Cape Girardeau.

Lee Shell and Joe Childress, who have always assisted with the tournament, also donated $600 from the proceeds left from the two tournaments they held in the fall of 2003.

"We added this money directly to the scholarship fund at Edward Jones and we really appreciate the help and financial support that Lee and Joe have always shown for our tournament. They have made contributions each year for several years from their other tournaments to the Ed Nunnelee Scholarship Fund," said Nunnelee.

The 2004 tournament will have Childress serving as tournament director and Greg Colwick again serving as co-director. Add to this year's tournament as co-director is Bob McCord III of Sikeston.

"We are glad to have Bob part of our committee. He has always played in the tournament and he grew up and was a classmate of my sister, Gene Nunnelee Ross, who always comes home to help with our family event, each year. When I told Gena about Bob's willingness to assist as a tournament co-director, Gena was very pleased, as am I, about his involvement and desire to help us," Nunnelee added.

Nunnelee was also quick to thank retiring Sikeston High School athletic director Charlie Vickery for all of the help and support that he has given the tournament over the years.

The Ed Nunnelee Scholarships will be awarded for the 2004 year to a senior boy and girl graduate of Sikeston High School at the awards presentation on May 10 at the Sikeston Field House. The tournament foundation, through the 2004 awards, have given nearly $12,000 in scholarship monies to Sikeston students, who plan to attend college, since it began the scholarship bequests in 1997. Part of the scholarship monies are provided by Dennis Cobb, who was a friend of Ed Nunnelee in high school. Dennis gives the Ed Nunnelee Sixth Man award each year at the awards presentation to a high school basketball player who is chosen by the coaching staff.

Tennis balls and a tournament T-shirt are provided to each player in the tournament while Pullen Brothers provides bananas and apples to all contestants. All players will also receive free ice, Pepsi bottled water, sport drink and towels.

Trophies and Sabona bracelets are given to the winner and second place finishers in each tournament bracket.

For more information or to enter contact Shell or Childress.