Althea Gibson, First Black Tennis Star, Dies at 76
Sun September 28, 2003 02:20 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) –

In 1951 she broke the racial barrier at Wimbledon.

Five years later, the tall, powerful right-hander became the first black woman to win a major tennis crown by winning the French championships title.

That triumph set the stage for a brilliant two-year run.

In 1957, Gibson became the first black to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title and she repeated the feat by claiming the U.S. national crown at Forest Hills.

Also R.I.P. Georgle Plimpton and Donald O’Connor