Mel Locklear enjoys growing tennis in the mountains at Blue Ridge park

  • Standing inside his vintage tennis museum, Mountain Tennis, Mel Locklear enjoys spending his retirement time not only educating the community about the history and game of tennis, but also volunteering his time giving free tennis lessons to local area kids in the Blue Ridge City Park Monday through Thursday afternoons, 50 weeks out of the year.
    Standing inside his vintage tennis museum, Mountain Tennis, Mel Locklear enjoys spending his retirement time not only educating the community about the history and game of tennis, but also volunteering his time giving free tennis lessons to local area kids in the Blue Ridge City Park Monday through Thursday afternoons, 50 weeks out of the year.
  • After their tennis lesson with Mel Locklear, from left, nine year old Ella Norris, Locklear, and 13 year old Garrett Pittman are all smiles at the Blue Ridge City Park Wednesday, November 10.
    After their tennis lesson with Mel Locklear, from left, nine year old Ella Norris, Locklear, and 13 year old Garrett Pittman are all smiles at the Blue Ridge City Park Wednesday, November 10.
  • Mel Locklear and Anna Beth Minear are all smiles after a day of tennis practice in the Blue Ridge City Park.
    Mel Locklear and Anna Beth Minear are all smiles after a day of tennis practice in the Blue Ridge City Park.
Blue Ridge resident and owner of a vintage tennis museum, Mountain Tennis, Mel Locklear is spending his spare time giving free tennis lessons to local kids. For nearly four years now, four…

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