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Interview with Jack Neer (b. 1933)
By Anderson Kitzis and Tristen Steen, on December 6, 2025
What year are you?
We're both juniors. Yeah, in high school. All right, I guess we can start by what's your name? Jack Neer. And how old are you? 92. All right. A young 92. Yeah, a young 92.
Do you want to just start with…. talk about…[your] whole life… where [you] grew up and everything [you] did. And then we can ask some questions after. Sure…, I grew up in the Irvington District by the Irvington Club. You know where that is? …And I went to Grant High School and then went to Fernwood Grade School before that and lived on 26th and Thompson. It was a good neighborhood..About three or four blocks from the Irvington Club. And that's where I started playing. I actually started at Grant in the high school…courts, with my sister, and then she beat me all the time. So I went to the Irvington club, tried to learn how to…play tennis. I did. There was a good, lot of good players there. That was the fun. That was an area of good tennis right … then. Anyway, there was really good players play. So I just got in. I took a couple lessons, not much. And then started playing a little bit, and the guy I started playing with was Clyde Knox, who was a coach at Grant. He was a basketball coach and then a tennis coach, too. So I started playing with him, and he taught me a lot of things, and stuff like that, and started playing. So, I think I was about 15 when I started. Oh, that's pretty old in those days, 15 was... Anyway, I started playing, and I went to high school at Grant.. started playing there, and.. The Irvington Club, I played there almost every day. It was raining, but we played in between rain showers all the time. So there were a lot of good players. That's probably the best area for tennis in those days. I think the club's still there. Yeah, it is. It was built in 1897. So it was pretty good. Anyway, so I started playing and what I did right away, entered tournaments. You know, started playing competitive, which… I wanted to do that. So there's a lot of good players have beaten me all the time. And pretty soon I started beating them. And then I started playing… I didn’t play in high school until I think my junior year. I played the other sports, I wasn't very good at it, but anyway, I played them.
And then I started playing tournaments. Right away, I played tournaments. So I'd get the competition. And there were a lot of good players at club.... And I started beating them. And Clyde was my coach at Grant, so I played with him quite a bit. So he was a good instructor. I think he coached basketball too. So, yeah. Tennis was his big sport. So I played with him, he gave me a lot of good advice and stuff. So I started playing tournaments. So right away I played tournaments. played the competition, which was good. And the other high schools have had some pretty good players. And so I played a lot of older, older guys. That was better for me to start with. Little by little, I started beating them, and so I got a little better, a little better. So, then I started playing tournaments, then I started playing tournaments right away, which is good. I had the competition. So do you play any tournaments at all? I do, yeah. I play some UTR tournaments. What's that? It's just… like a rating. Like universal tennis rating…. I see. I like doing that, it’s fun.
Yeah. So I started... I think it was probably, I started playing as a junior in high school. And then the next year, we had a pretty good team, Clyde was our coach. And I think I won in the state tournament that year, my senior year. And..then I went to University of Oregon for one year, then transferred to University of Portland, played there, but they had pretty good tennis there. So I played there, and played a little basketball, more tennis, and that. So I was getting better all the time for some reason. So I started playing tournaments right away. That's the first thing I wanted to do, play tournaments, get to the competition right away. That's what I did. And yes, I got beat a lot, very good first. Then I start beating the other guys, stuff like that, so the biggest thing is playing competition. Yeah, for sure. As you know. Anyway, I started doing that, so then I started playing traveling in the Northwest Circuit. They had tournaments in Seattle and Vancouver, BC, and Eugene, local tournaments. So I played those. The biggest thing I found out, just playing competition. And there's some good players in Seattle came down and played. There was a guy named Tom Gorman - he was a top 10 in the country, a good player, so I played him, a different tournament, so on and on, on. So any questions? ….
When did you stop playing tennis? Did you play professionally…? Yeah, I played for money, as a professional. Yeah, so when did you stop doing that? Probably, I think my last tournament, I was probably 50 years old. Oh, wow. I played the seniors… Yeah, so in my 50s and then the Opens: started with juniors…then the 35s, 45s, and I played Open tournaments all the time. And then I got, then…, the USTA called me up and wanted me to play for them. So I played at the Eastern Circuit, called the Grass Court Circuit, and…. the best players in the world were there, so that was good. So that's a good learning. You know, great players of Australia and Europe and US, they all played the tournaments, so I was fortunate to get in those tournaments..so in the draw. I did pretty well, not great, but I won some matches. And I watch all the best players in the world play. So that really helps. Hit balls with them and stuff like that. So I was involved in the tennis my whole life, really.. So, then I played the senior tour…too. And I won a few of those, and then the US Open, I won some matches. I didn’t win the tournament, but I won some matches. And I played at Forest Hills. One year, we played on grass, and the next year, they turned to clay. So, yeah, so we had clay courts and clay court tournament, and then, year before, it was all grass, which was…yeah, the US Open was tough. And the great players won that, so I just watched them... So on and on. And I played in a lot of senior tournaments when I got older, and I won some of those. So I've been playing tournaments my whole life. I stopped a few years ago for some reason. Not very smart. I just stopped. So, any questions?
I was wondering…what was the money like for the tournaments? Was it enough to…? Well, I won a lot of money one time, 38 bucks. $38.16….. So there wasn't that much money involved, first tournaments in those years. And then years they got over and more and more and more. So and then the millions and the thousands and stuff like that. But I would never play that level— I was probably 60 then… 50 or 60. So I was in the senior tournaments after that. So there's some money in that, not too much. Anyway, I played just to play.
Did you have another job or was this just it? Yeah, well, I had a regular job. Oh, I worked for Montgomery Ward, the buyer… Well, let's see, what else I did? Well, I drove a truck for a while. So I had tow or three different jobs, local jobs, stuff like that, so I got that when I got out of college. So then I played tournaments probably, I can't remember, probably when, 50 or 60 or something like that, and then I stopped playing those. So, yeah, I played probably my whole life really started 15 and you know, all the way up to 60 or 70. So it kept me in pretty good shape. So anyway, then I had an uncle, a real good player. In the old days, he played at Stanford and he won the NCAA down there. So that's.. he was a good player. And so we had an athletic family, my sister was a pretty good athlete. My dad was a good athlete, golfer. And my uncle was good. So I had some genes so that helped. So anyway, anything else you want to talk about?
I was wondering.., if you had so many….like your aunt and uncle were… super good at tennis and your sister also, why didn't you start earlier, because I feel like that's very common. Well, yeah. Yeah, no I didn't do that. I played the other sports in high school…. I went down to Grant park to hit with my sister and then she didn't like it because I was always trying to hit the ball over the fence. She didn't like that. So anyway, I moved to other people to play with something like that. I really started actually tournaments of more tennis at the Irvington club.. And they had the outdoor courts. They have indoor courts now…And then..I got the Oregon Hall Sports Hall of Fame, and I'm getting into the Northwest Hall of Fame. Oh nice. And the High School Hall of Fame and the College Hall of Fame. So, I got…all those for some reason. And then in college, I had a pretty good record. I won 89 straight matches. I went three or four years. Wow, that's great. That was good…. That was pretty good. Yeah. Seems like it. Anyway.. It was good exercise...and stuff like that. So tennis was my life there quite a bit. I didn't make much money because there wasn't much money in those days. ..So I just played for tournaments for trophies and stuff like that. That was it.
Have you gone back to..Grant and seen what it's like, or the Irvington Club? I'm going there, …. I'm in a new, new hall of fame, Pacific Northwest hall of fame. So they're going to have the ceremonies at the Irvington Club. Probably in the springtime. Yeah, so I'll go back to... So you'll go then? Yeah. I haven’t been inside there for a long time…I played one of the outdoor courts and they…were asphalt. And they turned... into regular courts. Anyway, I played..I was so close to the Irving Club, I could walk there and back and forth, so..it was good to be there, it took about five minutes to get there. And there's always somebody to play with. So that was good… So I played a lot. I kept pretty sharp playing tournaments more than anything. I think that's a good advice to play tournaments, or other competition. So that's where you..stays sharper like that.
What was Portland like when you grew up? Portland was like this now. It wasn't much different? It was.. big neighborhoods and stuff like that. It was still crowded then. Not like it was now… it was a good sized town. And yeah. And the big Portland Beavers baseball team. You ever heard of them? Oh, yeah, I think... Yeah. Bond Street, they had a party. Yeah. And they had, I think they had pro football one year or something like that. Then the Blazers came in a few years ago, in the '60s. Yeah, so we had…. then they had soccer, which started, it took over the old football field, made a soccer field out of it now…which is too bad, no… football. So anyway…the town was a pretty good size… But there's more people now….it was good. you know, same. We had a lot of things to do. And we had, fortunately, I had a car for a while… which is good. So I got around doing that travel, stuff like that, and traveled down to California. I had some friends down there, played them. It was down in Palm Springs tournaments there, so I…[played] all over the place. In Europe, I went over there a few times, and, uh, where else? Oh, in Saudi Arabia. I played over there. Interesting. Yeah, we had a group of people... We had a couple of swimmers, Don Schollander, was an Olympic winner.. He went over there, and we had three or four tennis players, did exhibitions and stuff like that…. That was good. So I've been around different places. And I'm here….Too bad.
Have you ever moved out of like Portland for a while? Or have you always stayed around here? I was in the Air Force. .. I was about 4 years in the Air Force. So I moved out…. I.. flew B-25s ….and I played a lot of tennis there too….a lot of different competition. I played basketball..and tennis. And then I had a good job, I was aide to the base commander, who was a general. So I played squash with him. So he wanted me to become his aide. So I did. Then I got out a long time ago, so I ended up a captain. So that was was my service career. Interesting.
What was your favorite part of being in the Air Force? Being in the Air Force? It was fine, liked it, and the other services… I went through ROTC at Portland U, so I got a commission. So I ended up, started as second lieutenant, ended up as a captain. So... That's automatic after a while. So anyway, I served the country for three years. So it was good. And they had a lot of tennis tournaments..so I played those too. So I was busy, not being an officer, just playing tennis. And did you ever get into any battles there…?... No, nothing. Guess when I was in, there were no wars… between Korea and Vietnam. So I was lucky….in between it.. That was very lucky... Right time. After that, it was a mess, I guess. I remember when World War 2 started, I was 8 years old, listening on the radio. I told my dad, there's a war going on. Yeah, Korea was bombed by the Japs. I never forgot that… Anyway, that's my service career. It was good to get in the service... As an officer, it was easier too. You don't have to do so much, kind of on your own. Did you get to pick being an officer?... I went through ROTC in college. ..So I graduated then they automatically become the 2nd lieutenant…1st lieutenant for 18 months, and then after a while they had to give you captain. Went up the ladder automatically. That was it…. The service is good for you. I mean, it's very important. Being officer is easier because you're on your own more than somebody's telling you what to do all the time. So that was good. But anyway, then I had jobs after that, then I'm here.
Did you ever have any kids? No, I never did. Never did. My sister had five…. So I was married, but I.. never had any kids. So they were lucky. How long were you married for? About five years. So anyway, I was playing tennis all the time. Which is pretty good, traveling back and forth. I had the Multnomah Club sponsor me a few times, so they paid my way, so that was good.. I think I had $500 for the summer, and that got me around. And I had friends, played different tournaments, we traveled by cars and back and forth. They had the grass court circuit, which was all the best players in the world played there, and it ended up at Forest Hills, which is…where the US Open there. And I played there on the grass, and then…turned…to.. clay, where the Forest Hills was, and... that was not good, so… turned back to grass again. And it’s at the new place now, so it's hard courts… I never played there, but I played all the Eastern grass court circuit played that Newport Beach, and then Boston, New York, and Florida. I play a lot of tournaments, different places. Yeah. So it kept me busy. I didn't make much money, but I played a lot of tournaments. Those days, there wasn't that much. So, anyway. That's about it….
When you were playing tennis… were there a bunch of fans in the crowd..? Yeah, there were… good crowds. Irvington club…I won the Oregon State, I think, eight times, I think I did. Something like that. The City tournament eleven times. So, yeah, I'm sure, something like that. And then played different places. And…I never got the Davis Cup team… Those guys were much better than I was. So anyway, I play a lot of tournaments. In the seniors, I won a lot of senior tournaments, Canadian nationals, and I think I won the US, one of those national tournaments. A world tournament someplace. Anyway, I played a lot.. So that was good.
Hearing that you traveled a lot for tennis, where is your favorite place that you traveled to? The best place I traveled? Well, back east, different places in Southern California. And then we played in Mexico and Florida. Yeah, so I went to all sun places. Yeah, that was the best thing…you get out of the rain. But the Irvington club finally became hardcore indoor courts, so that helped playing there. And there's a lot of indoor clubs now. Across the street was the Portland Athletic Club. I was coaching there for a few years, but they finally closed the place for some reason. The owner passed away. So this thing fell apart, so it's still over there, empty. It's been about a year and a half. It's empty. So there's no tennis club. So I was teaching there quite a bit, but now I don't do it… I try to have some clinics in different places during the summer, but then the weather comes bad, and that's it. Did you do some ... clinics this summer? Yeah, I did last summer. Oh, really? A friend of mine had a court at his house. So I gave clinics there for.. probably 2 or 3 months through the summertime. And then it started raining again, that's it.. So..no indoor courts. So I never got to another club. I was coaching Irvington Club for a while and Portland Athletic Club, which is probably about 10 years or something like that. And then the owner passed away and the thing went down and that was it. Still, it's still open over there, drive by there, nothing there. And I think some people tried to get pickleball in there, so I don't like pickleball. Have you ever tried it? Pickle? No. It's like ping pong, a little bigger place to run around. So I never did that. So I played a lot of tennis and other sports and stuff like that, so I was busy...
Did you consistently... travel with someone like a coach or agent or something when you run around? No, just on my own or different guys… would get in a car and drive someplace... Never had a traveling coach like that. The coaches I had were just local. The coach at Grant was a friend of mine, so he helped me. He was a member of Irvington club, too. Irvington Club had a lot of good tennis players in those days. Mostly traveled on my own, stuff like that. So it was good. Good experience for grow up and stuff like that and handle different people around the country and the world. Anyway, still have some friends all over the countries. They may be still alive. Who knows? So anyway, that's about it..
Did you have a lot of friends growing up who played tennis? Yeah, played a lot. Yeah, a lot of friends…around the country, yeah, a lot of a lot of friends around the world, stuff like that. You always, you got some good friends, they're all pretty good people all the time, some tennis players. I knew all the top Australian guys, and I won some tournaments…[they] sent me something. So I have about three or four Hall of Fames, and another one coming up in springtime. It's the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame - Tennis Hall of Fame. And then I had the Hall of Fame... [State of] Oregon Hall of Fame, and then Portland, U Hall of Fame, High School Hall of Fame. So I did a little Hall of Faming.
Was there a moment…because you… you did so many…, achievements. Was there a moment where you felt the most proud…if you won a tournament or…got… accepted into the Hall of Fame? Which one was your most memorable moment? The one coming up was gonna be good… Northwest Sports Hall of Fame. The State of Oregon Hall of Fame is good. That's all all the good athletes, top athletes, and they get two or three every year to get in. So, yeah, I like that one…That was good. So I like that. They give you a big plaque… So I got a lot of plaques at home. Not here. Oh, not here? Do you have another house? No, I… had a house on Patton Road around this area. So then from there I moved here. I don't know why but I did. So anyway, that's my kind of my history..
So how much tennis are you guys playing? He doesn't he doesn't play much. Smart man. But.. I try to play….I'm a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club. Do you know it? So I like going there a lot…with some of my friends who play and also my dad. He plays tennis. So I like playing with them. I probably play twice or three times a week. Oh, that's good…In the off season. When it's not tennis season in the spring. But then when it's high school season I play…. every day of the school week. So it's like a lot then.. I think I won the state high school tournament one year - senior year. That's cool. Yeah. They played the finals down in Corvallis, I think. Anyway I won that one. And I won eight or nine city tournaments,... championships, three or four states…. What I did, I played all the tournaments I could…You know, that keeps you sharp again. And that's the most important thing… Have a competition. We had probably a daily competition. Yeah, so that was good. So that kept you, it kept you sharp. I hope... So it was good. Did you have any other questions? All right. I think we're good. Okay...thank you so much.