[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 69 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.Con.Res.69
Agreed to November 22, 2003
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the seventh day of January, two thousand and three
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas Althea Gibson was born on August 25, 1927, and lived with her
family in Harlem during the 1930's and 1940's;
Whereas Althea Gibson was first introduced to tennis on the Harlem
River Tennis Courts and went on to dominate the all-black American
Tennis Association tournaments throughout the early 1940's, when
racism and segregation prevented her from participating in
tournaments sponsored by the American Lawn Tennis Association;
Whereas Althea Gibson graduated from Florida A&M University in 1953,
and was an athletic instructor at the Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, Missouri;
Whereas Althea Gibson was the first African-American player, either
male or female, to be allowed to enter the Forrest Hills, New York,
Championship in 1950, after her talents and celebrity forced the
American Lawn Tennis Association to reevaluate its policy;
Whereas Althea Gibson was the first African-American invited to
Wimbledon in 1951, eventually winning both the women's singles and
doubles in 1957, after which she was greeted by New York City with a
ticker tape parade;
Whereas Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to win the
championship at the French Open, in 1956;
Whereas Althea Gibson after finishing her amateur tennis career became
a professional golfer in 1959 and won the women's tennis professional
singles in 1960;
Whereas Althea Gibson was Athletic Commissioner for the State of New
Jersey from 1975 to 1977; and
Whereas Althea Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall
of Fame in 1971, and to the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1980: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that Althea Gibson should be
recognized for her ground breaking athletic achievements and for
continuing to serve as a role model for the Nation's youth.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.