PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island-based International Tennis Hall of Fame has hired a Boston attorney to investigate allegations a doubles champion inducted in 1992 sexually abused girls he coached.
Hall Chief Executive Mark Stenning said Tuesday that attorney Michael Connolly is interviewing accusers and will help the Newport-based Hall determine whether to expel, suspend or take no action against Bob Hewitt.
Massachusetts resident Heather Conner says she was abused by Hewitt. She’s being interviewed. She says she wants Hewitt booted from the Hall.
A former Hall president had promised an inquiry. But Stenning told The Boston Globe in May the Hall wasn’t conducting one. He said Tuesday the Hall should’ve moved more swiftly but is now “doing the right thing.”
Hewitt lives in South Africa. He told the Weekend Post there in September he wanted “to apologize” if he offended anyone.
