Induction intro presented by Paul Sweeney, Athletics Communications Specialist and Hall of Fame Selection Committee Member

"One of the unique challenges of starting a collegiate Athletics Hall of Fame more than 150 years after the start of organized sports at the school – which is what we did here at Tufts University – is uncovering the many worthy honorees from earlier years.
 
We have a wonderful Archives Department at Tufts which houses old yearbooks and newspapers that have provided great information on Jumbo achievements of the past. Our own Athletics history book – Jumbo Footprints, The History of Tufts Athletics from 1852-1999, which was spearheaded by former Athletic Director and Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Rocky Carzo – has also helped bring to light many great Jumbos from earlier days.
 
However, even these helpful resources can’t help us identify everyone. Sometimes you just get lucky. Last August, we received a nomination through our online form for Rachel "Polly" Kimball, later known as Polly Knowlton. She was already on our list of potential honorees because she had received a Jumbo Club Award, but we didn’t know much more about her.

And that’s where Barbara Pendleton enters the story. Barbara is a historian with a deep commitment to recognizing women’s contributions to collegiate tennis, and she has made it her personal mission to nominate deserving women’s tennis players for the Halls of Fame at universities across the nation and help them get the recognition they deserve. Thanks to her nomination and the detailed information she provided, we were able to fully appreciate Polly’s notable achievements and confirm her rightful place in the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame.

Polly grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, and developed a love for tennis early on. After becoming a Massachusetts state doubles champion while attending Winchester High School, she enrolled at Jackson College in 1941and joined the women’s tennis team.
  
In some of the earliest days of women's athletics at Jackson College, Polly achieved national success in her sport. She was undefeated in regular season play for her career, and in both 1942 and 1943, she represented Jackson College at the post-season National Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Championships. In 1942, she teamed with Geneva Underwood of Stephens College to reach the national doubles semifinals. And in 1943, she reached the singles quarterfinals and teamed with Connie Clifton of Rollins to reach the doubles final. By today's standards, those results would have earned her the distinction of being a three-time Division I All-American.
 
After graduating from Tufts in 1945, Polly became a living example of tennis as a lifelong pursuit. She began teaching tennis to children while raising her family on Long Island. Later, after moving to Houston and with her children grown, she resumed competitive play—and did so at an elite level. At age 45, Polly was ranked as high as #7 in the United States in doubles. Even more impressively, at age 75, she was still nationally ranked -- #12 in senior doubles. During that time, Polly and her doubles partner once competed against Maria Bueno and Darlene Hard, two women who are members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
 
Polly Kimball Knowlton passed away in 2010. But tonight, we are proud to honor and celebrate her legacy. It is our great privilege to posthumously induct Rachel "Polly" Kimball Knowlton into the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
Please help me welcome Polly’s son, John Knowlton, and Polly’s grandchildren, Katie and Curt Knowlton, to the stage to accept the Hall of Fame Award on Polly’s behalf."