Howard Payne University breaks ground on new tennis center

May 8, 2026 at 6:18 pm Derrick Stuckly

Dr. Brent Gentzel, chairperson elect, HPU Board of Trustees; Ronnie Andrews ’83, trustee, HPU Board of Trustees; Teri Andrews ’83, alumnae; Melinda Hines, first lady of HPU; Dr. Cory Hines ’97, HPU president; and Randy Lewallyn ’97, chairperson, HPU Board of Trustees, break ground on the new HPU Tennis Center.

Howard Payne University (HPU) broke ground on its new HPU Tennis Center on Friday.

The ceremony brought together HPU students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and members of the university’s Board of Trustees. The event, held on one of the university’s existing tennis courts, provided the opportunity to champion the future of HPU Athletics and celebrate the contributions of alumni Ronnie ’83 and Teri ’83 Andrews, who provided the lead gift for the project.

“None of this happens without the passion and vision of Ronnie and Teri Andrews,” said Dr. Cory Hines ’97, HPU president. “For decades, the Andrews family has invested time and resources in service to Howard Payne University. Their faithful leadership has provided – and will continue to provide – countless opportunities for students and student-athletes, and this new HPU Tennis Center will be a state-of-the-art hub for competition that will draw thousands of people to campus and to Brownwood over the years.”

The new tennis center, which will be constructed over the next year, will be the new home of HPU men’s and women’s tennis and will provide opportunities to host tournaments, NCAA events, UIL and regional events.

The center will include:

A 3,300-square-foot clubhouse with locker rooms, team room, coach’s office, study room and outdoor-accessible restrooms
Two additional tennis courts, for a total of eight courts
Covered observation area
Additional stands for visitors
Expanded parking areas

Construction will replace the current clubhouse located at 301 2nd Street across from the McCullough Athletic Center. Teinert Construction serves as general contractor for the project.

The Andrews’ gift to the tennis program is directed to help strengthen the future of tennis at the university. The couple sees the value in competitive athletics as an avenue to teach, inspire and unite players both on and off the field.

“We’re all called by God,” Teri Andrews said during the ceremony. “He’s called us to gratitude, and in gratitude, Ronnie and I came back to the campus about 10 years ago to try to add what equity God had given us back to the school.”

She explained that she has had a love of sports since she was a child and that sports have always been a part of her life. She said sports like tennis at HPU can provide an opportunity for students to learn about God, life, teamwork and overcoming challenges.

“Sport is powerful,” Teri Andrews said. “It’s powerful to inspire great things – both on the court, the pitch, the field, and off. It is so powerful to unite a disparate group of people and rally them around a common flag. Howard Payne is our common flag.”

Ronnie Andrews said he and his wife felt the Lord leading them to give to HPU because of the university’s impact on their lives. It was where they met. It was also where their faith grew and where they made lifelong friends. He said he and his wife followed God’s call to invest in the tennis center.

“Leadership begins when a burden becomes action,” Ronnie Andrews said. “Much like Nehemiah, Teri became deeply burdened for the many needs of the Howard Payne campus. God put it on her heart to focus on the tennis center and to do so in such a way that it would become a catalyst for the quality of all future athletic facilities at Howard Payne.”

With a central location in Texas, the new tennis center will be accessible for teams from all areas of the state to meet and compete. The indoor space also offers study hall areas and a team meeting space that can be used by other athletic teams as the space provides another area for student-athletes to gather.

This construction is the next in a series of projects for HPU Athletics that include renovations to the Brownwood Coliseum; new lights at Don Shepard Park and Citizens National Bank Soccer Field; and the construction of the Bob Carter Athletic Park for intramurals and the Woody and Miki Martin Sand Volleyball Courts, for the new beach volleyball team.

“This is a transformational moment for Howard Payne Athletics,” said Adam Bright, HPU director of athletics. “Our goal is to provide a championship-level experience for our student-athletes, and this facility is a major step forward in doing exactly that. It will elevate our tennis programs, strengthen our ability to recruit high-character young people and serve as a point of pride for our campus and the Brownwood community.

“We’re building something that reflects who we are, and this project also sends a clear message about where HPU Athletics is headed,” Bright said. “I can’t begin to express our appreciation for the generous support and stewardship of the Andrews family and look forward to many great memories made here in the future.”

Speakers at the ceremony included Ronnie ’83 and Teri ’83 Andrews; Dr. Cory Hines ’97, HPU president; Randy Lewallyn ’97, chairperson, HPU Board of Trustees; Emily Attaway ’09, HPU vice president for financial affairs; Adam Bright, HPU director of athletics; Dr. Brent Gentzel, chairperson elect, HPU Board of Trustees; and current HPU tennis players Caden Everett and Hannah Lightner.

For more information about giving to HPU, visit www.hputx.edu/give.