Cardinal Hall of Honor
Cathy Beene’s legacy is her role on the first national championship team for the Lamar University women’s program. But, by the time Beene and partner Linda Rupert nabbed the AIAW national doubles crown in 1973, Beene was already established as one of the nation’s premier collegiate tennis players.
In her freshman and sophomore seasons (1970 and 1971) at Lamar, Beene captured the Texas AIAW state title in singles play. She combined with Rupert to capture state championships in doubles in 1972 and 1973. Beene was the first female player in Texas to win a combination of four state titles. Beene and Rupert, who shared equal billing at Lamar, reached the national quarterfinals in 1971 and the semifinals in 1972.
After her magnificent collegiate career, Beene remained active in tennis circles as a touring pro, a club pro and a college coach. After head coaching stints at the University of Texas and the University of Houston, she joined the UT Arlington staff as head tennis coach and associate director/senior woman administrator. She also chaired the NCAA men’s and women’s tennis tournament committee. She was named to the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.
