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The International Tennis Hall of Fame will celebrate Hall of Famer Bud Collins Thursday evening, October 4 at the Marriott Boston Copley Place. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m. while dinner starts at 7:30 p.m. “Bud Collins attire” is optional.

Honorary Chairs for the event are 1987 Hall of Famer Billie Jean King along with 1970 Hall of Famer and Hall of Fame President Tony Trabert. Emceeing the “Celebrating Bud Collins” evening will be Beantown’s own Emily Rooney, the host and executive director of Greater Boston. Proceeds from the event will benefit the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Annual Fund and a donation will be made to Bud’s efforts in helping to build tennis courts at a special school in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Arthur "Bud" Worth Collins, Jr. is considered the sport’s leading historian, having covered every major tennis event in a career spanning more than five decades. He is the walking encyclopedia of tennis, and has written the books to prove it. Covering all media outlets - print, radio, and television – he is a journalist, broadcaster and commentator traveling the world promoting, educating and enjoying tennis. He joined the ranks of the Boston Globe in 1963 and his columns have been numerous and humorous ever since. With a vibrant flair and contagious enthusiasm he delivers stories both new and old. An international ambassador, he is the most colorful man in tennis – literally!

As a journalist Collins has been with the Boston Globe since1963, after a sports writing stint that began at the Boston Herald in 1955. He has also been a sports columnist for London’s Independent since 1986. Collins has contributed to such publications as Sports Illustrated, New York Times, New York Times Sunday Magazine, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle, Sunday Times of London, International Herald Tribune, Melbourne Age, Tennis Week, Tennis Magazine and Tennis Life.

Collins has spanned the continents covering events in a variety of sports including the World Series, the Olympic Games, Davis Cup competitions, Wimbledon, French Open, Australian Open and US Open tennis championships. He has covered golf’s coveted U.S. Open and British Open. He was ringside at most of Muhammad Ali’s fights, and penned stories of championship playoff games in football, basketball and ice hockey. He has also covered a variety of non-sport stories, ranging from the Vietnam War and national political campaigns to African Safaris and outdoor treks in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and New Zealand.

With a focus on tennis history, he is most noted for his tennis encyclopedias -- Bud Collins Total Tennis: the Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia (2003), Bud Collins Tennis Encyclopedia (1997), The Bud Collins Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis (1993), and Bud Collins Tennis Encyclopedia (1977). In addition, he has written several other books: Coach - Collection of Essays (2004, Edited by Andrew Blauner); The Best American Sports Stories (2001); My Life With The Pros (autobiography, 1989); Evonne (with Evonne Goolagong, 1974); and The Education of a Tennis Player (with Rod Laver, 1971).

Ask Bud and he’ll say that while he “scribbles” for papers, he also “babbles” for television. A noted sports commentator, Collins’ expertise and knowledge can now be viewed on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. He has also worked for TV networks PBS (1963-1988), NBC (1964, 1972-2007), ABC Australia (1996 to present) and has also commentated at various times for CBS, USA, CBN, MSG, SKY, HBO, New Zealand TV, and Eurosport. In 2006, Collins even appeared in an episode of Psych, USA Network’s hit show about a psychic detective.

Collins is known for his off court tennis expertise; however he was also a standout on the court. A self proclaimed “hacker” he was the 1961 U.S. Indoor Mixed Doubles Champion teaming with Janet Hopps and he reached the 1975 French Open Senior Doubles final with Jack Crawford (from Boston).

Elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994 for his contributions to the game, Bud Collins is the ultimate historian on the sport of tennis. Collins is a true icon of our great sport reminding us of the rich history of tennis. As tennis has grown and developed through the years, Collins has pondered the many changes, reported its progress and has given us his unique and refreshing insight to the game and its players. For this we celebrate Bud Collins.

For more information, or to obtain tickets to the “Celebrating Bud Collins” event, please contact Mickey Riendeau at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, 401-324-4057.