Carnis L. Poindexter was born August 27,1938 in Roanoke to Lillian G. Reese. He grew up in the northeast section of Roanoke and later moved to the Lincoln Terrace apartments across from the Upper-Springwood park tennis courts. As a child, he attended both Greater Mt. Zion Baptist and First Baptist Sunday school and church.
His early and school years were spent at Gilmer Elementary, Booker T. Washington, Jr high school and graduated from Lucy Addison high school in 1957. Carnis met Dr. E.D Downing the summer before he graduated in 1956. A local dentist and avid tennis player, was part of The American Tennis Association (ATA) Junior Development Program founded by Dr. Robert “Whirlwind” Johnson (1899-1971). Johnson was the trainer and coach of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe.
The ATA was the only tournament in which a black player could participate and compete before integration. In the spring of 1957, Carnis caught the attention of Dr. Downing after playing in a Junior Development (ATA) Scholastic Tournament in the tidewater area. During the early 50’s, Dr. Downing with his double’s partner, won an ATA Championship in Wilberforce Ohio. There he met and befriended Dr. Kenneth Johnson, athletic director, tennis coach and scout for Arkansas A.M.&N College, later renamed UAPB (University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff).
In Carnis’s words, “Dr. E.D Downing acknowledged my interest in tennis. He encouraged me to play at 5:30 in the mornings with him on the courts across from where I lived. He further inspired me to play tennis by giving me books to read, and study the game. Dr. Downing told me that I was good enough to go to college on a tennis scholarship. In September 1957, I became self-taught, considered it my Christian duty to help others as he has helped me, so I passed it on.”
Carnis was the first tennis player from Roanoke, VA to attend Arkansas A.M.&N on scholarship. “My friend Bill Woods, hitting partner from Roanoke came to Arkansas I January 1957 on a tennis scholarship after military service. “My best tennis was played my freshmen and sophomore years after training with Bill again.” At Arkansas, in 1959, I won the (ATA) National Inter-Collegiate Singles Championship. In 1960, I was the singles finalist in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), doubles finalist with James Williams. John Penn, a sophomore, from Roanoke, I won the (ATA) National Inter-Colligate Tournament my senior year in 1961.”
“My professional growth and future plans began after I returned home for the summer. I began working for the Recreation Department teaching tennis in the parks. The formative years which developed me as a coach, was the legacy Dr. Downing handed to me. In dedication to this great man, who I call my ‘angel,’ I taught the tennis players and took up Dr. Downing’s role of sending them to college. Primarily a mission to develop and maintain the future community of tennis players in Roanoke, VA, his dream became my dream. Based on my recommendations, 25 Roanoke athletes attended Arkansas A.M.&N/UAPB from 1965 to 1975.
“I met a wonderful woman named Vera Ruth Cornelius when I was a senior. Vera was a freshman. I decided to marry her that day I graduated in 1961. Finishing her education in three years, she became a superb elementary school teacher (1964-1995),an excellent wife to me, and mother of our sons Carnis and Clifton. Vera passed March 19, 1996 after a lengthy illness. (I miss her, even today)
“We trained on the courts in Washington Park in the Black community. Vera came to the park daily where she became a part of the coaching. In addition, she established caring fellowships with the tennis players, while I taught. Samuel ‘Bo’ Terry, Class of 1969, Alumni of Arkansas named me ‘Ole Man’, Vera ‘Ole Lady.’ We were strictly known by those fond titles from that point on, because of our nurturing natures with the players.”
“After serving my country in 1964, I was able to pursue my passion for coaching tennis, teaching school. My first teaching job was in 1964 at Burley high school in Charlottesville, VA. There I started Burley’s first tennis team in March of 1965. Returning to Roanoke in 1965, I taught until retiring in 1994. My credentials are a BS in Health and Physical Education/Minor in General Science from Arkansas A.M.&N; a Master’s in Biology from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC.”
“As a member and Elder of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (USA) in Roanoke, VA, my Christian duty still remains, to help others, as I was helped.”
