Maurice Leclerc

Major Accomplishments

Inducted into the Quebec Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.
Created the Quebec Umpires and Linesman Association.
First Canadian chair umpire at the US Open.

Biography

Maurice Leclerc has been involved in tennis as one of Tennis Canada’s most valuable volunteers for more than 50 years in Québec. His passion and love for the sport has always been a trademark that has transcended tennis. Leclerc’s dedication to promote tennis and help children in their development has always been recognized by his peers during all the years of his service.

Leclerc started as a linesman in 1947 and was recognized quickly as one of the best linesman in the province. He then became a linesman at major events in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto until 1965. Leclerc was also a linesman and umpire at the major Jack Kramer exhibitions where players such as Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzalez and Pancho Segura participated.

In 1948, Leclerc created and became the first president of the Quebec Umpires and Linesman Association for the PQLTA. Also in 1948, Leclerc became the first Canadian to pass the USLTA umpires association exam and was admitted in their association.

From 1950-1954, he was the first Canadian to be invited to umpire the matches at the US Open at Forest Hills, New York. He also umpired at the US Indoor Nationals in Philadelphia and was the first Canadian appointed referee at the Volvo International in Mount Washington. He then had the privilege to umpire players such as Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, Stolle and Alexander, among others.

In the late 1940s, Leclerc translated the American umpires and linesman course into French and was the first to present these courses across Quebec.

Many years later, between 1967-1974, Leclerc was invited by CBC to umpire the Rothman’s WCT tournaments in Quebec City recording which were broadcast on television during the fall of each year and umpired the first summer games in Halifax in 1967.

In the early 1980s, he was appointed for two years as the chairman of the WCT’s leg and presented the first world doubles championship in 1973 and 1974, which was held in Montreal and hosted the best eight doubles teams in the world such as; Rod Laver and Roy Emerson, Robert Lutz and Stan Smith, Tom Okker and Marty Riessen, Ken Rosewall and Fred Stolle, Arthur Ashe and Roscoe Tanner.

For eight years, he served on different committees of the Canadian Lawn and Tennis Association when Pierre Dessaules, Laird Watt, François Godbout and Jim Macken served as president and also participated in many activities such as the Canadian Open tournaments in Toronto and Montreal.

Leclerc was also inducted in the Quebec Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995 as a builder for all his accomplishments and for his ongoing efforts and continuous work to promote the game and for helping kids attain their goals.

In 2000, Leclerc was selected as the Honorary President of the 15th edition of the Canadian Junior International Tournament held in Repentigny.