Robin heffron, co-founder
Randall's mom
Robin was born at Roper Hospital and was raised in Charleston, SC. She enjoyed time spent with her grandparents at Hampton Park, The Citadel, and on King Street. She attended the College of Charleston and is a graduate of Trident Technical College and The Medical University of South Carolina College of Allied Health Sciences, with a degree in Applied Allied Health Sciences. She has enjoyed 30 plus years working in the insurance industry and is currently licensed in all lines of insurance.
She was married to Dr. Randall G. “Randy” Heffron, DMD in 1988 at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Charleston. Robin continued her devotion to Randy following his death in 1994 by remaining involved in the scholarships established in his memory awarded through The SC USTA Tennis Patrons Foundation and The Citadel Brigadier Foundation.
Randy and Robin have two sons, Randall (deceased) and Walker. Robin was deeply committed to her sons as a working mother rarely, if ever, missing a sporting event as a single parent.
She is committed to community service and has served on various committees with The Junior League of Charleston and was Past President of the Mason Preparatory School PTO. She served as a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Choir at St. Andrews Lutheran church and is currently a member of St Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC.
Robin is Co-Founder of The Randall Heffron Foundation.
WALKER HEFFRON, CO-FOUNDER
RANDALL'S BROTHER
Walker was born at Roper Hospital and raised in Charleston, SC. He was Christened in baptism at St. Andrews Lutheran Church on November 22, 1992. His summers were spent enjoying all sports especially swimming, tennis and basketball.
He is a 2011 honor graduate of Bishop England Catholic High School. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wofford College in 2015 and is a member of the 2020 Class of The Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. He is currently an Orthopaedic Surgery Resident in the Department of Orthopedics at The Medical University of South Carolina.
Through the NASA SC Space Grant Consortium he completed undergraduate research with the Clemson University Physics and Bioengineering Departments on the effects of spaceflight radiation on astronaut physiology.
Walker is an accomplished college athlete having earned both academic and athletic honors as a Division I Men’s Tennis Team Member at Wofford. Walker is the 2011 LowCountry Player of the Year for Men’s tennis and is a National High School Tennis All American.
He made history twice during his time as a student athlete at Wofford. Walker was the first Wofford Men’s Tennis Team Member to receive the Southern Conference Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award as the 2014 recipient. The award is particularly special because his father, Randy, was coached by Don Bunch (deceased) at The Citadel from 1965-1969.
Walker made history the second time as an active member of the Wofford tennis family being part of the first doubles duo to receive All Southern Conference First Team Doubles Selection following an undefeated conference season in 2015 at the number one doubles position his senior year. Post season he would make school history a third time by being the first Wofford tennis player to receive CoSida Capital One Academic All-District Team selection. He also served as team Captain for the Wofford Men's Tennis Team.
While at Wofford, Walker also served as both Social Chair and Alumni Chair for Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He was inducted into the Wofford Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 2016. He is currently a member of St Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC and serves as Co-Founder of The Randall Heffron Foundation.
WILLIAM HOWARD WALKER
BOARD MEMBER
Howard was born October 03, 1934, in Sebring, Florida, and is affectionately referred to as “Poppa” by Randall and his other grandchildren. His family moved to Waycross, Georgia in 1935, and to Charleston, South Carolina in 1941. He is a 1953 graduate of North Charleston High.
Howard joined the South Carolina National Guard while in high school. In 1954 upon graduation from high school he joined the United States Army. He Served in Munich, Germany at the 7th Army NCO Academy (Lead Personnel Specialist and Base Movie Theater Manager). In 1958 Howard moved to Chicago, Illinois to work in The First National Bank of Chicago, Accounting Division for Travelers Checks Issued by the Bank. In 1960 he returned to Charleston, SC, and started a career in Civil Service at the Charleston Naval Ship Yard as a Computer Operator/Programmer. His positions in Civil Service included work at The Polaris Missile Base until 1980 when he returned to the Charleston Naval Shipyard where he continued a long career in Civil Service as Head Tech Support for Shipyard Computer Systems until his retirement in 1993.
You cannot speak of Howard without speaking of his wife of 55 plus years, Joan Marie Rabens Walker. They are proud parents of six children; Rickey/Gaby, Terry, Robin/ Randy, and Stevie. They are exceptional grandparents to Jonathan, Jennifer, Randall, and Walker and wonderful great grandparents. Both Howard and Joan are devoted members of St. Johannes Lutheran Church.
Howard is committed to hard work and community service and has been a member of the VFW, American Legion, Sumter Guard, Washington Light Infantry Associate Member, Citadel Brigadier Foundation, Past President of BPO Elks 242, and Past Grand Treasurer BPO Elks USA.
LARRY STEVEN DIBIASE
BOARD MEMBER
Larry is a 1965 graduate of Winyah High School in Georgetown, South Carolina where he was born and raised. He received a BA degree in History and Political Science from Newberry College in 1969, his Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) from Winthrop University in 1974, and pursued his Post Graduate work in Administration at Clemson University, The University of South Carolina, and Winthrop University.
Larry is an accomplished basketball coach having realized his dream to coach college basketball at his alma mater Newberry College from 1977-1983. During his tenure as Coach at Newberry, he led his teams to five consecutive twenty-win seasons and six District 6 playoff appearances.
He is the Past President and Founder of the sports marketing firm Jersey Promotions. Larry carried his attributes as a successful coach to his work as a State Farm Agent. He is currently a State Farm Agent in Camden, South Carolina where he has received President’s Club, Regional Vice President’s Honor Council, Crystal Excellence, Silver Scroll, Bronze Tablet, Legion of Honor, Millionaire Club, and Health Honor Club honors during his time as an agent from 1989-present.
Larry married Fran Hall DiBiase (deceased) and they have three children, Carmen DiBiase Atkins (Mac), and his twin sons, Angelo (Margaret) and Gabriel (Mallie) DiBiase. All of his children and his son-in-law are proud graduates of Clemson University. He enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren and visiting the scores of friends he enjoys throughout the State of South Carolina. He is an avid “shagger” and was inducted into the South Carolina Shagger’s Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018 Larry received one of the highest honors from his Alma Mater with his Induction into The Newberry College Athletic Hall of Fame. Larry is an active member of his community in Camden, South Carolina as well as his church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Camden.
JOANN LEE
BOARD MEMBER
Originally from South Africa, JoAnn received her undergraduate degree from The College of Charleston where she was a member of the Lady Cougars tennis team. She received her master’s in Physical Education and Sports Science from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.
JoAnn’s programs have provided world-class tennis camps and instruction in the Charleston area for more than twenty-five years. She was recently named “Parents Choice” for summer camps and named one of the “Twenty Five Heroes in the Game of Tennis” by the Tennis Industry Association. She was named 2014 USPTA Southern Pro of the Year and has received the USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year honor twice in her professional teaching career. In 2010 she was inducted into the St. Andrews Parks and Playground Hall of Fame. She holds PTR, USPTA, and US High-Performance Coach Certified designations. JoAnn’s focus is always on the individual player, developing a work ethic while keeping the fun in the game.
She was Randall’s beloved first coach when he hit the first tennis ball at age three at St. Andrews Parks and Playground. Most importantly, JoAnn is a single parent to her daughter, Lindsay.
HOPE COLYER
BOARD MEMBER
Hope Geer Colyer was born in Charleston and enjoyed growing up playing sports at East Bay playground with Hazel Parker, tennis at Creekside with Billy Silcox, fishing offshore with family, summers at the Isle of Palms with friends, and volleyball at Ashley Hall.
Hope attended Ashley Hall and then spent her first two years at Rollins College, transferring as a junior to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She pursued a Masters in Public Health from the University of South Carolina and then a Masters in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Hope’s career has been focused on healthcare, working for MUSC since 1992 in Marketing and currently in Primary Care.
Hope is married to Leigh Colyer and they have three boys, Leigh, Rivers, and Ben. Leigh is a graduate of The College of Charleston, Rivers is a proud graduate of the engineering program at Clemson University and Ben is a member of the Corps of Cadets at The Citadel. All of the boys played junior tennis and continue to enjoy the many relationships they made with tennis players, coaches, and families across South Carolina. The Colyers are members of St. Philips Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
