Rose Thomas Jones & Rosie Bareis Inducted into Hall of Fame

Rosie Bareis and Rose Jones put Hawaii tennis on the map during their time as co-captains and doubles partners at the University of Hawaii. The two were formally inducted into the USTA Hawaii Pacific Tennis Hall of Fame this past Saturday at the Annual Awards Banquet. The crowd of 250 in attendance were treated to an intimate "fireside chat" with the inductees, where Rosie and Rose shared inside stories about their time playing together in the 1980s. Congratulations, Rosie & Rose!

About Rosie Bareis

Rosie Bareis played her first game of tennis as a sophomore in high school and fell in love with the sport. As a natural athlete, Rosie also played basketball, soft tennis, and softball. Tennis, however, taught her how to compete on an individual basis, how to stand up for herself, and gave her opportunities to meet people around the world. When Jim Schwitters, former tennis coach at the University of Hawaii, saw Rosie play, he offered her an athletic scholarship. Those college years were, in Rosie’s words, “one of the happiest times of my life.”

At the university, Rosie played No. 1 doubles during her entire four years with her partner Rose Thomas Jones. During their time on the UH Rainbow Wahine Tennis Team, they held a record of 138-14 with an impressive 50-match win streak. The duo was unbeatable in Hawaii from 1978-1987. At the 1983 Sugar Bowl, Rosie won the singles championships and took home the doubles championship title with Rose. From 1991-1994, Rosie was recognized as the USPTA Hawaii Female Player of the Year. To date, she has won eleven USTA Gold Balls.

In 1995, Rosie moved to Northern California, where she oversaw the Harbor Bay Club as Tennis Director. Within four years of her tenure, the club won the prestigious USTA National Organization of the Year Award. Today, Rosie is the Director of Tennis at the Claremont Resort and Spa, where she has worked since 2003. Through her leadership, the club has won numerous awards, including the USTA NorCal Organization of the Year Award. It was featured on the Tennis Channel in 2007. 

As the only certified female USPTA Master Professional in Northern California, Rosie has coached many nationally ranked juniors, including ATP Pro MacKenzie McDonald, who has held a ranking of No. 77 in the world. Rosie has also coached at all four junior Grand Slams and has been recognized as the USPTA NorCal Pro of the Year more than once. In 2013, Rosie and Rose were the first tennis players to be inducted to the UH Sports Circle of Honor.

About Rose Thomas Jones

Rose Thomas Jones was born and raised in Hawaii. She was one of ten children to Robert and Doris Thomas. Rose began playing tennis at the age of 13 and quickly mastered the sport. During her four years at Kalani High School, the team achieved a 195-0 record with Rose contributing 40 of those victories. In 1979 and 1980, Rose won the Hawaii State High School Championships with her doubles partner Kelly Michaels. 

In college, Rose continued to put Hawaii tennis on the map at the University of Hawaii, where she attended on an athletic scholarship. She served as co-captain for the tennis team all four years and finished with a record of 125-16 in singles. She, along with her doubles partner Rosie Bareis, led the university to win the 1983 Sugar Bowl Championship. In her senior year, Rose was awarded the Jack Bonham Award, the highest honor given by the University of Hawaii’s Athletic Department, for her achievements both on and off the court. She was selected by the College of Arts and Sciences to lead her graduating class in the 1984 commencement ceremony.

Rose’s achievements extended beyond the college campus. She was a two-time Hawaii Grand Prix champion in 1984 and 1987, and was the leading point winner going into the Grand Prix finale, having won victories in the Hawaii State Open, Hawaii Sectionals, Royal Lahaina Open, Wailea Open, Kapalua Open and Hanalei Bay Open. She was ranked No. 1 in singles, doubles and mixed doubles in Hawaii in that era. Rose has also won two USPTA National Championships and has earned two USTA Bronze Balls.

In her professional career, Rose has worked for some of the most reputable companies in the tennis industry, including Adidas, Prince and Wilson. She currently works as a Territory Manager and Sales Representative for the popular tennis brand, Babalot, where she oversees Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.

Most recently, Rose served on a medical mission to Kenya and Tanzania. In addition to providing medical care, she also taught tennis to the village children. Back home in Spokane, Washington, Rose runs a tennis program for at-risk middle school students called “Tennis Tribe. She is a proud mother to two boys, Ethan and Shaun.