Newark, NJ, May 3, 2009- Althea Gibson was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Sunday during a ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She was part of the “Class of 2009” which included – Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jerry Lewis, Guliemo Maconi, Shaquille O’Neal, Phil Rizzutto, Paul Robeson, Carl Sagan, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams and Senator Bill Bradley.
Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to win a major title when she won the French Open in 1956 won a total of 11 major titles including singles and doubles. She served as New Jersey State Commissioner on Athletics for ten years.
Global Village Tennis News was present for the event and conducted a few interviews on the red carpet. Representing the late Gibson wre her brother Daniel, freind and former Mayor of New York City, David Dinkins and the CEO of the Althea Gibson Foundation, Fran Clayton Gray.
Click here for Red Carpet Interview with David Dinkins
Click here for “Red Carpet” interview with Daniel Gibson
Click here for “Red Carpet” Interview with Fran Clayton Gray
From Left to Right: NJ Govenor John Corzine, undentified relative, Daniel Gibson (seated),
Fran Clayton Gray, David Dinkins and Ben Chavis