[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF DR. R. WALTER ``WHIRLWIND'' 
                                JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker I am honored to rise today to 
recognize the distinguished career and achievements of Dr. R. Walter 
``Whirlwind'' Johnson, one of many unsung heroes of the Civil Rights 
Era. We also recognize him for his role in guiding the early careers of 
Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe--the nation's first African American 
tennis champions.
  Dr. Johnson built a tennis court in the backyard of his Lynchburg, 
Virginia home during a time of racial segregation and spent more than 
20 years (1950-71) training African American athletes who would go on 
to compete against top players at major junior events. Dr. Johnson 
primarily used his own funds to house, clothe, feed, and develop these 
junior players, including Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who said 
repeatedly throughout their lives that they never would have made it 
without Dr. Johnson's generosity and support.
  Dr. Johnson inspired, directly and indirectly, many of his students 
to pursue tennis-related careers, including Willis Thomas, president of 
the American Tennis Association (ATA) and tennis director with the 
Washington Tennis and Education Foundation (WTEF) in Washington, DC; 
former pro Leslie Allen, ex-chairwoman of the U.S. Fed Cup Team; former 
pro Zina Garrison, former U.S. Fed Cup captain; former pro Rodney 
Harmon, former head of men's tennis for the United States Tennis 
Association (USTA); teaching pros Arthur Carrington and Bob Davis; 
United States Federal Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr.; and Doug Smith, who 
covered tennis for 3 of the nation's largest newspapers--Newsday, the 
New York Post, and USA Today and is the author of Dr. Johnson's 
biography, ``Whirlwind, The Godfather of Black Tennis.''
  Dr. Johnson most significantly helped tear down racial barriers in 
tennis years ago and helped Americans understand that tennis should be 
enjoyed by all who play and love the game. Dr. Johnson also served as 
head football coach at 2 Georgia universities--Morris Brown University 
and Atlanta University--in the late 1920s. He later established a 
junior development tennis program to train and prepare African American 
players, including Arthur Ashe, to compete in the United States Lawn 
Tennis Association (USLTA) sanctioned tournaments. Whirlwind's junior 
program was a prelude to the high-tech junior training academies and 
camps now run by tennis gurus Nick Bollitteri, Rick Macci and former 
No. 1 World Champion Chris Evert. Dr. Johnson operated the camp for 
more than 20 years and helped more than 100 African American juniors 
earn college tennis scholarships during that era.
  Madam Speaker, we should continue to honor American heroes like Dr. 
R. Walter ``Whirlwind'' Johnson who fought for a better America without 
race barriers on and off the court. America and the game of tennis have 
both benefited an enormous amount because of Dr. R. Walter 
``Whirlwind,'' Johnson and we as a Nation owe him and other American 
heroes a tremendous amount of gratitude.

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