Tuesday marked the last day Jane Paulin joined her weekly tennis group at Merchant Centre Court for tennis and lunch afterward. After 90 years old on Monday, Paulin said she thought it was time.
But Paulin won’t be idle, as she’s trading her racket for a pickleball paddle to play twice a week as she learns the sport in her hometown of Tell City, Indiana.
When her children entered school 44 years ago, Paulin and her sister Kate Fischer drove to Owensboro weekly to socialize and play, first at Our Tennis House with Joan Ramey Ford and then at the Executive Inn. They would even play in the winter if it was warm enough. Eva Bulleit has been traveling with the sisters and playing with the ladies’ group since 2000.
“We said the temperature could be no lower than 30 degrees,” Paulin said. “It could be raining in Owensboro but not in Tell City or vice versa, but the temperature is usually the same.”
Paulin knew the day was coming when she’d stop making the trip.
“I will still come and have lunch with them,” she said. “But several months ago I told them that when I turned 90, this was it.”
It was up to Paulin to find her replacement in her tennis group, and she has. Since her sister had to retire from tennis a few years ago because of injuries, Paulin carpools with a woman from Hawesville.
“She will take my place; it has been decided,” she said.
While her tennis group has changed over the years, with many coming in after retiring from education, Paulin said some have “moved up” in their skill level.
“Not me,” she said laughing. “We didn’t.”
Her group also played United States Tennis Association league play and she said that while they never played their best, they had a lot of fun traveling to tournaments together.
“The social life of being on a tennis team has been great,” Fischer said. “Many tournaments, fun trips to Kenlake, and many enjoyable lunches. Tennis has created many friendships throughout the years.”
Paulin was featured 20 years ago for playing tennis at 70, something many thought remarkable at the time. Paulin didn’t think there was much to her story of still playing two decades later, but her sister and son convinced her otherwise.
“‘Do it for the game of tennis’ my sister said,” Paulin said. “It’s remarkable.”
Now, after retiring from tennis, Paulin is stepping onto a new court with new rules and scoring.
“A lot of people in Tell City are interested and there is a lot of change between the two,” she said. “I don’t know that I will ever figure out how to keep score.”
If her tennis career indicates her stamina, she will do just fine.
