ASU mourns loss of Hall of Fame tennis player Pam Richmond Champagne
Arizona State mourns the loss of Sun Devil tennis player and ASU Hall of Fame Inductee Pam Richmond Champagne, who passed away last week at the age of 60. Richmond Champagne, a three-time National Champion, competed for ASU from 1969-72, where she also led the Sun Devils to their first team national team title in 1971.
In her time at Arizona State, the 5' ½" foot Richmond Champagne was dominate on all areas of the court. In 1971, Richmond Champagne swept the singles and doubles titles and helped ASU win the team title at the national collegiate championships. The following year, Richmond Champagne would repeat as the doubles champion and help the Sun Devils win their second-straight team championship.
Richmond Champagne graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State in 1972 with a B.A. in psychology. Following graduation, Richmond Champagne went on to compete in the Billie Jean King-pioneered Virginia Slims women's tennis circuit, the predecessor to the current Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.
For her contribution to the Arizona State record books, Richmond Champagne was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 1977 and for her overall contribution to the game of tennis, the Sun Devil was inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Association (ITA) Women's Hall of Fame in 2002.
Richmond Champagne lived the last 20 years in the Bellingham, Wash. area, working as an award winning insurance agent and for the last 16 years, owner of The Champagne Group, a successful personal and business coaching company.
Contributions in Richmond Champagne's name can be made to Whatcom Hospice Foundation: www.hospicehelp.org