[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             REMEMBERING THE HISTORIC LIFE OF ALTHEA GIBSON

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, an American hero, Althea 
Gibson, died Sunday at the age of 76. Gibson was a champion tennis 
player, the first black athlete to compete in the U.S. Open, in 1950, 
and at Wimbledon, in 1951. She went on to win major tournaments, 
including the Wimbledon and U.S. Opens in 1957 and 1958, the French 
Open, and three doubles titles at Wimbledon. In golf, she was the first 
African-American woman on the LPGA tour.
  Althea Gibson was born in South Carolina, raised in Harlem, New York, 
and went on to become an outstanding professional tennis and golf 
player. She carried herself with grace and dignity and is a role model 
for millions of young Americans learning to break down racial barriers.
  Althea Gibson's tremendous character and talent allowed her to make 
great progress for civil rights while playing tennis and golf, much in 
the same way Jackie Robinson did in baseball. She will always be 
remembered and is greatly missed.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops.

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