Gibson, Althea (1927–2003)
Gibson, Althea (1927–2003)
African-American tennis player. Born Althea Gibson, Aug 25, 1927, in Silver, South Carolina; grew up in Harlem, New York; died Sept 28, 2003, in East Orange, New Jersey; Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, BS, 1953; m. Sidney Llewellyn (her coach, div.); m. William A. Darben (businessman), 1965 (div).
The 1st African-American to win tennis titles as well as the 1st black female to compete on the Ladies Professional Golf tour, was NY paddle tennis champion at 12; won the National Negro Girl's Championships (1944, 1945, 1948–56); broke tennis's color barrier at the US Open (1950) and nearly defeated Wimbledon champion Louise Brough; won the French Open (1956); with her powerful serve, extra-ordinary speed, and long reach, won women's singles final at Wimbledon (1957), defeating Darlene Hard, and doubles; won the Wightman Cup (1957) and the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Trophy (1957); won national singles championship twice at Forest Hills (1957 and 1958); won singles and doubles at Wimbledon once more (1958); was a member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour (1963–67); served on athletic commissions, as tennis coach, and as an associate of Essex Co., NJ, park commission (1970–92).
See also (autobiographies) I Always Wanted to Be Somebody (Harper, 1958) and So Much to Live For (Putnam, 1968); Tom Biracree, Althea Gibson (Chelsea House, 1989).