From Bronx Red Clay to Southern California
Courts With Official Larry Calder

Tennis is often defined by precision, sportsmanship, and respect. Officials embody these characteristics during every match, working selflessly in the background to uphold the integrity of the sport.

Among them is Larry Calder, a Southern California tennis official who has become a familiar face and trusted presence on court over the past five years. This milestone reflects not only his commitment to the game, but also his dedication to ensuring fair play at every level.

Red Clay Roots

Larry’s connection to the sport began in the Bronx, New York, where he grew up just a short walk from a public park with tennis courts. But these weren’t just any courts, they were red clay courts, a surface more commonly associated with European tennis and a rare gem within the playing community. Yet for Larry, playing on clay wasn’t a luxury; it was simply home.

“The courts were the same red clay surface as those at Roland Garros. People came from all over NYC to play on these courts—the best in the city,” he shares. Weekend mornings brought long lines of players hoping for a chance to slide on the coveted surface, while Larry and his friends treated it as their everyday playground. At the time, he didn’t yet grasp how unusual it was to grow up on red clay. “In the mid 1960s, playing on these red clay courts, I did not know that there were other surfaces and hadn’t realized that I was getting spoiled to play here,” he says.

Larry’s love of tennis followed him through juniors and college, eventually earning him a spot on the Queens College Division II men’s team, where he played one season before transferring to the University of Maryland. 

From New York to California

While tennis shaped his youth, Larry’s professional ambition propelled him across the country. A few years after college, he became the Corporate Vice President for a publicly traded textile company in New York, selling industrial textiles to distributors nationwide. Over time, he realized that he could do this himself and chose Los Angeles as the place to launch his own venture. “I selected Los Angeles to start my business as it was the second-largest marketplace in the U.S. behind NYC,” he says. 

In 1984, he founded his own industrial textile company as CEO, representing the same major mills he once competed against. The business grew steadily in sales, and after a decade of success, he sold the company in 1994.

An Unexpected Path

Years after retiring and many travels later, Larry entered a new chapter in his life, prompted in part by unexpected downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic created a halt in people’s lifestyles, his wife, Dianne, encouraged him to use the spare time to explore officiating tennis. Larry embraced the idea immediately. “I quickly completed all the course work online and grabbed an opportunity for tournament play, becoming certified in 2020.”

He started his officiating career working junior events throughout Southern California, and before long, added adult and college matches to his résumé. He credits his focus and discipline from his longstanding professional career. These qualities naturally complemented his ability to officiate with clarity, consistency, and accuracy on court. 

Over the years, he’s also received praise from his fellow officials who have opened doors for him to officiate at the highest levels. “The support, encouragement, and recommendation of seasoned officials resulted in invitations to two Center of Excellence (COE) programs” he says. These USTA-led programs provide advanced learning and development with a focus on mentorship and specialized training for high-level chair and line umpiring. Through them, Larry began officiating top-tier junior tournaments, college postseason championships, and lower-level professional events.

Lessons in Sportsmanship

Of all the matches Larry has officiated, his favorite is one of true sportsmanship amidst a high-stakes battle. “One amazing match that I chaired was a junior boys’ semi-final match which went three tiebreak sets. Those kids played with exemplary sportsmanship at the Division I tennis level. Officiating their match was the most rewarding experience for me—I was honored to do it,” he reflects.

Sportsmanship clearly resonates with Larry as a critical component to respecting the sport. He describes it as a delicate balance between quietness and effective communication. “Officiating safeguards fairness while demanding a selfless attitude toward the play. An official’s restraint, coupled with reasoned and thoughtful communication, presents a positive image and ensures a satisfactory outcome for both the players and the tournament.”

His advice for newer officials is to accept challenges and be completely present during every match. “It’s important for all, especially newer officials, to be open to observe, listen, and receive constructive comments. An official must give full attention to every match, as that match is the most important thing for those players,” he shares. 

Life Beyond the Chair

When he’s not officiating matches, Larry keeps himself busy with plenty of hobbies, including playing tournament bridge, traveling, taking cooking classes, and playing tennis, of course. He and Dianne also share a remarkable history as instrument-rated airplane pilots—both trained for seaplanes and certified with high-performance and complex endorsements. 

The journey began in 1997 when Dianne shared she wanted to learn to fly. “Not knowing what the heck she was talking about, I asked ‘fly what?’ Of course she said planes. She then asked me if I wanted to as well, to which I said ‘yes!’ The following year, the couple enrolled at Flight Safety, the world’s largest aviation training company, and moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where they trained five days a week alongside aspiring commercial pilots. After years of renting planes, they eventually purchased their own aircraft, flying around the world together as co-pilots. This past October, they proudly celebrated 45 years of love and togetherness.  

Five Years and Counting

Reaching the five-year mark holds meaning for Larry not because of the number itself, but because of the experiences behind it. From officiating USTA Girls’ & Boys’ Nationals to NCAA and ITF Championships, Larry is proud of the role he’s played in upholding the sport’s integrity across every age and skill level. “These last five years as a tennis official have been most enjoyable—both the challenges and the satisfying outcomes. I look forward to the next five plus years!” he reflects.