Arthur Ashe

Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

Arthur Ashe, the only Black man to win Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian Opens, was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Early life

Born in Richmond in 1943, Ashe honed his game on segregated public courts before earning a scholarship to UCLA.

He won three Grand Slam singles titles, including Wimbledon in 1975, and became a leading advocate for civil rights and public health.

He remains the only Black man to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.

Ashe is honored as a champion and humanitarian; the US Open's main stadium bears his name.

Athlete

Lanny Wadkins, a major champion and Ryder Cup stalwart, was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Business Leader · Activist

Maggie L. Walker, the first Black woman to charter a bank in the United States, was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Activist · Jurist

Oliver Hill, a civil-rights lawyer whose work fed into Brown v. Board of Education, was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Jurist · Activist

Spottswood Robinson III, a civil-rights lawyer and federal judge, was born in Richmond, Virginia.