The Quiet Leader

When you asked people who knew Peter Herb to describe him, a common theme always came back: calm, respected, and a leader.

To understand the magnitude of Peter’s impact on the USTA NorCal section, as well as the USTA as a whole, you have to start at the beginning.

He was hired in 1963 to be the Executive Director of the USTA Northern California Section, and lead it for 38 years. During his time, Herb went through 20 Board Presidents, the birth of the internet, and the word processor. “He was so thrilled with the word processor, he kept saying ‘look what I can do,’” Betty Cookson, who worked with Herb since the mid-70s, said laughing. But that was Peter, he embraced the changes and the challenges. “Peter was really on the ground floor of the USTA NorCal Section,” Don Jacobus, who hired Herb, remembered.

“I loved working with him; he was such a hard worker, even-keel, and just a super person to be around.”

When Herb started as the Executive Director, he was the only staff member. Cookson recalled the time when it was just him and Tom Barnes in the office at the current Bay Club San Francisco Tennis. “He was so dedicated to the section and to tennis, he was instrumental in making NorCal a viable section,” Cookson said. “Because of that, he was able to add staff as the years went on and his knowledge at the sectional and national levels earned the respect of his peers and he became the Senior Executive Director for all the Executive Directors.”

On top of his dedication to the section and to the game of tennis, another trait that kept coming back to describe Herb was, innovative. “To put it simply, the reason USTA NorCal is what it is today is because of Peter,” Steve Leube, Executive Director for USTA NorCal, said. “He was a visionary and it is thanks to him that NorCal is innovative. He was a visionary when it came to scheduling, so much so that Brian Earley, a former US Open Tournament Referee, asked him for tips on scheduling for the US Open. USTA NorCal was the first section to have a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and he was at the forefront of that.” Next to him to assist in the development of that Committee, was Sharon Smith Mauney. “He was an encyclopedia of knowledge and connections,” Smith Mauney remembered fondly.

“He had such respect for the game and wanted everyone to be able to play it, so when we built what used to be the Minority Advisory Committee, his goal was to work on relationships with different associations to include more minorities in the game of tennis.”

Another word that people described Herb by was a leader. Dick Gould, former John L. Hinds Director of Tennis at Stanford University who worked with Herb for 40 years, couldn’t stress enough Herb’s classy personality whether it was at work or outside of it. “This is an incredibly big loss as much for his personality as for his leadership skills,” Gould stated. “He knew when to speak up and when to let things go, and that’s how he was able to navigate those times so well.” The sentiment was echoed by a former USTA NorCal Board Member who also worked with Herb for decades, Liz Blum. “He knew how to get things done without a confrontation, without getting people angry,” Blum said.

“Something he was especially good at was mentoring, not only his staff, but the volunteers as well. He allowed us to step out of the section on national committees, and a lot of us wouldn’t have gotten to where we are without him encouraging us,” Blum, who also served on the National Junior Competition Committee, said. “He is still a role model today in dealing with difficult situations. I do think about him and what he would do.”

These statements summarize Herb’s legacy perfectly. His impact has been felt far beyond the scope of his work, positively influencing his staff, volunteers, and people he worked with still to this day. Even though he liked to do things himself, “he allowed you to have your own voice and to let the spotlight shine on his people,” Smith Mauney shared. “He had a twinkle in his eyes,” she said softly. Peter’s twinkle might be gone, but it will live on through his profound impact on the USTA and the USTA NorCal Section.