S. Howard Voshell (1888–1937) was an American

tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...

player and later a promoter. He was an insurance broker. In

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Voshell attained the rank of second Lieutenant in the air service. Voshell was a left-hander with a "cannon ball" serve. Voshell made his debut in the U. S. Championships in 1910 and lost his first match. He had early round losses in 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916 and 1917. In 1917 and 1918 he won the National Indoor championships. At the 1918 U. S. championships, Voshell beat 15 year old prodigy

Vincent Richards Vincent Richards (March 20, 1903 – September 28, 1959) was an American tennis player. He was active in the early decades of the 20th century, particularly known as being a superlative volleyer. He was ranked World No. 2 as an amateur in 1924 b ...

and

Craig Biddle Edward Craig Biddle (October 24, 1879 – December 22, 1947) was an American male tennis player who was active in the second decade of the 20th century. Biography Craig was born into the Biddle family, a prominent Philadelphia family, the youn ...

before losing to Robert Lindley Murray in the semi finals. Every year from 1919 to 1926, Voshell lost early at the U. S. Championships. He retired in 1930. Voshell persuaded

Fred Perry Frederick John Perry (18 May 1909 – 2 February 1995) was a British tennis and table tennis player and former World number 1 male tennis player rankings, world No. 1 from England who won 10 Majors, including eight Grand Slam (tennis), ...

to turn pro and was co-promoter (with Frank Hunter) of the early pro matches between

Perry Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England (particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire), parts of South Wales, France (especially Normandy and Anjou), Canada, Austral ...

and

Vines A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or wikt:scandent, scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; ...

in 1937. His health deteriorated as the year wore on and he died in November 1937 aged 49 at his home in

Kew Gardens, Queens Kew Gardens is a neighborhood in the central area of the New York City borough of Queens. Kew Gardens is bounded to the north by the Union Turnpike and the Jackie Robinson Parkway, to the east by the Van Wyck Expressway and 131st Street, to ...

.Staff
"S. Howard Voshell, Ex-Tennis Star, 49; National Indoor Champion in 1917 and 1918 Succumbs at Home in Kew Gardens"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', November 11, 1937. Accessed November 28, 2017. "S. Howard Voshell, a former "first ten" man in the national tennis ranking, who held the national indoor championship in 1917 and 1918, died yesterday at his home, 32 Abingdon Road, Kew Gardens, Queens, after an illness of six months."

References

1888 births 1937 deaths American male tennis players Tennis players from New York City People from Kew Gardens, Queens Professional tennis promoters {{US-tennis-bio-stub