On November 22, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 69) recognizing Althea Gibson for her groundbreaking athletic achievements and for continuing to serve as a role model for the nation’s youth. The House approved the resolution on November 18 (see The Source, 11/21/03).
Sponsored by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), the resolution states, “Althea Gibson was the first African-American invited to Wimbledon in 1951, eventually winning both the women’s singles and doubles in 1957.” The resolution also honors Althea Gibson as “the first African-American woman to win the championship at the French Open, in 1956.” The resolution notes that Ms. Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
