WACO, Texas (SMU) – Former SMU men's tennis standout John Ross will be inducted into The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame announced by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Ross was a three-time All-American from 1983-86 and will also be inducted in the SMU Hall of Fame on Sept. 20. He helped the Mustangs to three Southwest Conference titles (1983, 1985, 1986). SMU finished in the top six nationally each season, including an NCAA runner-up finish in 1983. He advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1985 NCAA singles championship, finishing the season ranked No. 4 nationally in singles and No. 9 in doubles (with Monte Oppenheim). The 1986 SMU Senior Male Athlete of the Year partnered with Richey Reneberg (SMU HOF 2012) to win that season's SWC No. 2 doubles championship.

He finished his career on the Hilltop in the top 10 for singles victories (79) and doubles triumphs (62). In 1982, he reached the Wimbledon boys' singles quarterfinal and was runner-up in doubles. He made the second round of the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in singles in 1988 and made the second round in doubles at the U.S. Open (1981, 1987) and Australian Open (1988).

Including Ross, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame class of 2024 will feature eight members: Oliver Miller (Arkansas), Alfred Anderson (Baylor), Jason Phillips (Houston), Claudia Haywood Minor (Rice), John Ross (SMU), Sherri Steinhauer (Texas), Tony Franklin (Texas A&M), Janice Dziuk (TCU) and Brad Hastings (Texas Tech). 

The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon will be held at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, TX, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at noon. To purchase tickets, tables or sponsorships, click here. The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame is one of four separate halls of fame housed within the Texas Sports Hall of Fame's building.