If you've ever learned, practiced or competed in tennis in Jefferson City over the past four decades, there's a good chance you've come across David Steinmeyer.
The longtime YMCA and Jefferson City High School tennis coach showed up to the Firley YMCA Sunday for what was billed as an open house at the newly refloored tennis/multipurpose courts.
However, the more than 100 attendees were there to honor Steinmeyer for his decades of coaching.
He choked up as officials read a Senate proclamation and announced the courts would be named the "David Steinmeyer Courts." A permanent sign with the wording is being made, and will be located under the YMCA logo at the courts.
Steinmeyer said he wasn't deserving of the honor, but that his career and family have been "a real blessing."
"My work at the Y was never work, it was always just fun, so I don't feel like I deserve the honor," Steinmeyer said. "If you can have a job that you like and go to every day and have fun - what a wonderful gift the Lord gave me."
Steinmeyer first coached at Webster Groves High School from 1956-66, then for a decade at Westminster College in Fulton before coming to Jefferson City. He was the Jefferson City High School tennis coach from 1976-98, where he compiled a 447-107-2 record - almost 81 percent wins.
Although he was the JCHS tennis coach, he's had a hand in coaching kids from Helias Catholic High School and other local schools.
A Senate proclamation said he was the "face of Jefferson City tennis" and he "inspired and motivated his teams to achieve great goals, both on the tennis court and in the classroom."
Anne Rost, coordinator of the St. Mary's Foundation, expressed gratitude to Steinmeyer for 24 years of "leading the charge" for the annual St. Mary's Foundation Tennis Tournament, which has raised more than $200,000 for the hospital.
She noted a local article published a few years ago quoted Steinmeyer as saying: "I just hope those I worked with are better people when they leave," then she added: "Well, Dave, you've made us all better!"
Mickey Gage, who now directs the tennis program at the Y, was out of town, but had a letter read at the event. It congratulated Steinmeyer, saying that when he came to Jefferson City in 1985, Steinmeyer welcomed him into the tennis community.
"You treated everyone the same way; you always gave of yourself," the letters said in part. "Through the years, you've taught hundreds of tennis students, and I'm sure you made a positive impact on their lives. This is what great coaches do."
Craig Lammers, CEO of the Jefferson City YMCA, said a booklet is being made that includes letters of appreciation and love for Steinmeyer. The crowd laughed when Lammers said it also has some of the coach's well-known motivational sayings and terms, including "lollygagging," "Where's your work ethic," and "Are you committed?"
The courts were recently refloored with Taraflex Tennis by Gerflor, a multipurpose floor with texture from France. The $260,000 investment replaces the green carpet that has been on the floors since 1989. The new flooring will allow the courts to not only be used for tennis, but for soccer and other events, such as group exercise, said Shelly Poire, the Y's director of development/marketing.