Richmond Tennis Association
Mailing: P.O. Box 17612, Richmond, VA 23226
Phone: (804) 357-3793
JP LaFors, President | Maria Sorkin, Managing Director
After winning his first tournament – the West Virginia 10-and-under state title – Perkins was “hooked
on the sport.” Overall, Perkins is an 11-time West Virginia state champion and was ranked No. 1 in the state in every age division from 10s through 18s.
Perkins played No. 1 singles for Bluefield High School and won over 50 USTA-sanctioned tournaments across the Mid-Atlantic section. He was a founding member of the men’s tennis club at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1993.
Ever since he arrived in Richmond, Perkins has served in a number of volunteer positions, including board member and then president of the RTA, tournament director of the city championships and a USTA Mid-Atlantic board member. Perkins was selected Virginia and Mid-Atlantic sections volunteer of the year in 2010 by the USTA.
In addition, Perkins has served as assistant coach for Goochland and Deep Run High Schools. His law firm has sponsored several local tournaments and yearly awards $1,000 scholarships to two of the best public high school players.
Perkins has also been active on the national scene. He was on the USTA’s tennis rules and regulations committee from 2009- 2018, serving as chairman, as well as speaker and contributing writer on rules and sportsmanship for the USTA, Tennis Magazine and the Tennis Channel.
Perkins was a member of the USTA adult league 4.5 team that won nationals in 2001. He was co-author of Richmond: One of America’s Best Tennis Towns and spearheaded Richmond’s bid in the USTA’s best tennis town contest, finishing in third place.