Joseph Cullman

Joseph Fredrick Cullman III was an American tennis aficionado who was born in New York City in 1912. He is known for being as much a Tennis lover than he was a businessman. Cullman was the CEO for the Phillip Morris Company – a role that had allowed him to showcase the sport of Tennis in more ways than one. Cullman served as the President for the International Tennis Hall of Fame from 1982 – 1988. He also served as a U.S. Open Tournament Chair from 1969 to 1970.

Cullman was as much focused on his business career as he was on Tennis. He was instrumental in helping the U.S. Open get on its feet during its formative years. He also helped to get the 1968 US Open games televised – a move that exposed tennis to the American viewing public and to the world in general. He also helped the Corel Tour get started. He backed it up with the marketing of his product Virginia Slims.

Aside from being a Tennis supporter, Cullman was also known for his stand on smoking. During the time when people started to consider smoking hazardous to health, Cullman continued to stand up for it. Cullman graduated from Yale University. One of his greatest contributions to Yale is a Tennis Complex aptly named The Cullman Center.

Cullman served as the chair for the International Tennis Hall of Fame for seven years starting in 1982. He helped make it what it is today. He also helped the Hall of Fame’s home – the Newport Casino – recover from its decline. For all his contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990.