The Barbara Twardus Merit Award
Introducing the Seattle 500:
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SPS High School Athletic Hall of Fame • Seattle WA
Matriarch Amy Woo was introduced to tennis at Vashon Island High School, where she
became the star player just a week after receiving her first tennis racquet, displaying a
talent for tennis that continued throughout her life.
She married Wing Wo Yee and had four children: Joyce, Linda, Gordon, and Gary.
Joycie graduated from Franklin High School and her siblings attended Cleveland High
School. Together with their mom, they offered free clinics at Cleveland and neighborhood
parks. Gordy became a three-time Metro League doubles champion. Younger brother
Gary earned Metro League singles championship title for three consecutive years. Each
sibling earned tennis scholarships to attend the University of Washington (Joycie),
Arizona State University (Linda), Seattle Pacific College (Gordy), and University of
Washington (Gary) respectively.
Amy Yee also won many tennis championships (including nine national titles) and was recognized with many
honors throughout her lifetime.
The Yee family is estimated to have won more than 2,000 tennis titles in all. In 1965, the family was presented
with The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Family of the Year Award for their promotion of the game of tennis.
In 1980, Seattle City Council established the annual Amy Yee Tennis Tournament, recognizing her as a
“distinguished representative for Seattle to the athletic community with her participation in tennis.” Yee also
founded the Amy Tee Tennis Scholarship fund in 1990; the non-profit seeks to sponsor the tournament and
offers additional training for promising players.
In 2002, the city’s tennis center was named in Amy
Yee’s honor. She was also inducted into the US Tennis Association’s Pacific Northwest Section Hall of Fame.
Her legacy is appreciated not only a great local athlete and coach, but also instrumental figured in building and
nurturing Seattle’s youth tennis programs.
2019 Recipient: Yee Family -
Amy, Joycie, Linda, Gordon & Gary
