I first heard of Althea Gibson when I saw the John Wayne movie, "The Horse Soldiers." Althea Gibson played the maid of John Wayne's love interest.

I later found out that she had been a champion at Wimbledon and she also played golf. At this time she was one of the few women, Black or White, to be successful and recognized in sports.

She was multi-talented. She had a night club act. Gibson was well received as a performer.

When I was in elementary school, Althea Gibson came to our school and gave a speech and a demonstration of her tennis and golf skills. She told us how she'd grown up Black and poor just as a lot of us had, but sports was something that God had chosen for her to do.

There were a lot of obstacles she had to go through to get there. There were no golf courses or tennis courts where she lived, but different people took personal interest in her and helped her accomplish her goals.

She paved the way for others that were to come. On her wishes she had was to see other Black woman do as well as she did in Tennis. I know she is now beaming, there are two gifted Black players the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena. They are at the top of their sport at this time.They are two truly amazing athletes. Thanks to Althea Gibson there will be more to come.