Althea Gibson

By bschil@neisd.net

  • Birth date

    She was born in Silver South California on August 25, 1927

  • Won the New York Woman's Paddle Ball Championship

    By 1939 she went to win the New York Woman's Paddle Ball Championship

  • Joined the Cosmopolitan Club

    During the 1940s she joined the Cosmopolitan Club in New York, this is where she began to play Tennis, enter tournaments, and win matches. The club was only for African Americans because, White famous people played tennis.

  • PAL promoted paddle ball

    In 1940 PAL promoted paddle ball.

  • Introduced to Harlem River Tennis Courts

    She was introduced to Harlem River Tennis Courts in 1941.

  • Won more ATA titles

    She then won 2 more ATA titles in 1944 and 1945

  • Won more ATA titles

    She then won 2 more ATA titles in 1944 and 1945

  • Lost 1 title

    She lost 1 title in 1946

  • Compete at U.S. National Championships

    Althea Gibson was the first African American to compete as a Tennis player at U.S. National Championships in 1950

  • Compete at Wimbledon

    Althea Gibson was the first Black player who competed at Wimbledon, in 1951

  • Became a top 10 player in the U.S.

    In 1952, 1 year after becoming the first black player to compete at Wimbledon- she was a top 10 player in the U.S.

  • Graduated from collage

    She graduated from Florida A&M University with a sport scholarship and graduated in 1953.

  • Became number 7

    She became #7 in the U.S. by 1953

  • Was sponsored by American Lawn Magazine

    In 1950 Alice Marble, Former Tennis player number 1, herself wrote a piece called American Lawn Magazine. Then in 1955 she got sponsored by American Lawn Magazine.

  • Won 10 straight Championships by 1956

    She won 10 straight Championships from 1947-1956

  • Won a U.S. open

    She won a U.S. open in 1958

  • Won singles and doubles

    She had won 56 singles and doubles by the time she was a pro in 1959

  • Landed the singles title

    She landed the singles tittle in 1960

  • Inducted to the International Tennis Hall Of Fame

    She tried to repeat her past success, but she was too old and slow she couldn't keep up with her younger team mates, so she then decided to retire. Following retirement in 1971, she was Inducted to the International Hall Of Fame.

  • Served of being a Commissioner Of Athletics for New Jersey State

    Beginning in 1975 she served 10 years of being a Commissioner Of Athletics for New Jersey State.

  • Death

    Sadly, she died on September 28, 2003