Tennis trailblazer Althea Gibson dead at 78

[qanda]

Tennis trailblazer Althea Gibson dead at 78

EAST ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Althea Gibson, champion tennis player in the 1950s who was the first black to win Wimbledon and U.S. national titles, died Sunday. She was 76. Gibson had been seriously ill for years and died at East Orange General Hospital, where she had spent the last week, according to Darryl Jeffries, a spokesman for the city of East Orange.

Gibson was the first black to compete in the U.S. championships, in 1950, and at Wimbledon, in 1951. However, it wasn't until several years later that she began to win major tournaments, including the Wimbledon and U.S. championships in 1957 and 1958, the French Open, and three doubles titles at Wimbledon (1956-58).

(more)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2003-09-28-gibson-obit_x.htm

[blondeatlast]

1. So sad. Lots of tributes already in the Lounge.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php

[blondeatlast]

2. Kicking this one--she was one gf the overlooked greats.

[undergroundrailroad]

3. RIP Althea Gibson - you will be missed.

Undergroundrailroad

[lalajohns]

4. RIP Ms. Gibson

May your Soul Rest in Peace