NEWPORT, R.I. -- Gladys Medalie Heldman, a tennis Hall of Famer who is credited with helping create the women's tennis tour, died Sunday at the age of 81.

Carillo Remembers Heldman

Gladys Heldman was one of the game's great visionaries -- a force of nature with a clarion voice and a courageous, risk-taking heart. She will most be remembered for her unstinting support and encouragement in helping women's tennis start their own tour. A maverick herself, Heldman persuaded her friend Joe Cullman, head of Phillip Morris, to bankroll the seed money needed to fund the first Virginia Slims tournament in 1970. The nine women who dared to defy the male establishment and break out on their own included Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Val Ziegenfuss and Julie Heldman. Though the nine were briefly suspended by the U.S. Tennis Association, the Virginia Slims tour was formed the next year, and women's sports were changed forever. Heldman will be mourned and missed by many. She was a remarkable woman in a remarkable time, and helped change the game forever. -- Mary Carillo

Heldman was elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979. The Hall of Fame announced her death on Monday.

Heldman became involved in tennis after her marriage in 1942 to Julius Heldman, a former U.S. Junior Champion (1936). In 1953, she founded World Tennis magazine, and served as the publications publisher, editor and writer during more than two years on the job.

In 1970, she helped carve out a niche for an independent women's tennis tour, which became the Virginia Slims circuit. In its first year, Heldman arranged for 14 tournaments with combined prize money totaling over $180,000.

In the mid-1970s, Heldman sold the magazine and retired to New Mexico with her husband.

Heldman was a Texas champion and prominent senior player. Her two daughters, Trixie and Julie, both held national junior rankings -- Julie won the Italian Open in 1969 and was once ranked as high as No. 5 in the world.

Along with her husband and two daughters, Heldman leaves behind three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

No funeral service will be held. A special memorial service will be held later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Inc., P.O. Box 9692, Santa Fe, NM 87504, 505-983-3530.