In the fall of last year, Shreveport’s recycling collection contract expired after the private companies negotiating the renewal of that contract requested changes that were not in the city’s interest. The city subsequently issued a request for proposals for recycling collection, which drew no responsive bids.

It was a truncated version of The City Tennis Tournament, an annual event dating back to 1923 that had gone dormant for almost 10 years. That is, before three local tennis enthusiasts (Rick Holland, Todd Killen and myself) banded together, determined to bring it back.