HomeMy WebLinkAboutBiography of Gardnar MulloyCo -Designation request from the Spring Garden Civic Association
Sponsor: District 5 Commissioner
Street: NW North River Drive between NW 10th Avenue to NW 7th Avenue
Requested by: Spring Garden Civic Association
Point of Contact: Eileen Broton, Vice President
Honoree: Gardnar "Gar" Mulloy
Gardnar was born November 22, 1913 in Washington, DC, the son of Robin Barnum
Mulloy and Clara Putman Mulloy, who chose, for patriotic reasons, to go to the Nation's
Capital for the birth of their son. Gardnar was raised from the time he was 2-weeks old
in the house they built in Spring Garden on North River Drive, and has lived in the
Spring Garden his entire life. He graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1932 and
attended the University of Miami on a football scholarship, where he graduated Magna
Cum Laude in 1937, School of Law. He became a law partner with Pallot, Silver and
Mulloy.
Gardnar is an American tennis star. Taught to play tennis by his father in the Spring
Garden neighborhood, the father and son won U.S. championships in 1939, 1941 and
1942 doubles. He was ranked in the top ten men's tennis singles in 1939. He was on
the Davis Cup team for seven years, winning in 1946, 1948 and 1949 with Bill Talbert,
and was twice the captain of the Davis Cup team. He won over 116 national and world
tennis titles, including the nationals at Forest Hills, the. U.S. Open, Monte Carlo, the
French Open and Wimbledon. He was the first American to win at Wimbledon doubles
champion title in 1957, and was presented the Wimbledon Cup by Queen Elizabeth in
1957. He is enshrined in eleven tennis Halls of Fame throughout the country. He has
also been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Miami Senior High School. One of his
greatest contributions to tennis was advancing the popularity of Senior Tennis. He
played the senior circuit around the world into his 90's and contributed the Mulloy Cup
for international competition between men tennis players 80 years of age and over.
Gar is also a Veteran and an author. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was the commander of a landing craft. He retired from the Navy in 1945. He has
written two books. The first, "The Will to Win", describes his tennis days, and the
second book, "As it Was", provides stories from his life.
Pet Rescue, Inc. was founded in 1982 by tennis legend Gardnar Mulloy who mortgaged
his own home to pay for the approximately four acre property where the shelter is
located. Gardner believed in a "no -kill" philosophy and insisted that every animal should
have a second chance. Pet Rescue, Inc. has been devoted to saving the lives of
homeless cats and dogs, free from the threat of euthanasia. In October of 2009 Pet
Rescue merged with the Humane Society of Greater Miami, and Gar has joined their
Board of Directors.
Lawyer, tennis legend, veteran, author, animal advocate, friend and neighbor, Gardnar
will celebrate his 99th birthday in Spring Garden this year. He is our longest living
resident, and remains active in our neighborhood. The Historic Spring Garden
neighborhood and the Spring Garden Civic Association request the City of Miami and
Miami -Dade County honor him by endorsing and approving this co -designation. We
believe his contributions to our neighborhood, the City, and society -at -large make him
an appropriate honoree.