2024 Black Tennis Hall of Fame
The Upcoming 16 th Annual Induction Ceremony Will Take Place In Richmond, VA
Richmond, VA – On September 21, 2024, from 5:00 – 9:00 pm, Black Tennis Hall of Fame (BTHOF) will present its 16 th Annual Induction Ceremony to Honor the Class of 2024. With great pleasure the event will be held at the prestigious Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220.
Co-hosting this year’s event will be Chief Executive Officer Shelia Curry, President D. A. Abrams, and Founder/Vice President Dr. Dale G. Caldwell.
The BTHOF, founded in 2007, brought this international organization to Richmond in 2022. When founded by Dr. Caldwell, the organization was initialized with intense devotion to implement social access to the history of Black tennis and to acknowledge the honor of many tennis related individuals whose life achievements have not been addressed.
Richmond has a rich and impactful history in Black tennis. First and foremost, Richmond was the home of Arthur Ashe, who not only was one of the all-time best players, but also was an international humanitarian who left a mark on the world as indelible as his tennis was on the court. Additionally, Richmond was home to several major American Tennis Association (ATA) tournaments. The ATA was the
organization formed to provide Black players, who were barred from playing in USTA events, to compete in national and regional tournaments. For years, the Southeastern Open was held at Battery Park in Richmond and ran by Dr. John Watson, a legendary pioneer in promoting Black tennis players. Several nationally ranked Black players have come from Richmond, including Rodney Harmon. Arthur Ashe, Dr. Watson, and Rodney Harmon have all been inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame.
This years inductees in the Class of 2024 include:
James F. Phipps, Jr.
William Murray
Maurice Renee Hunter
Lange Johnson & The Whirlwind Johnson Foundation
These individuals have not only excelled in the sport of tennis but have also broken through barriers of race and class to achieve success and inspire future generations.
Tennis has grown to become one of the worlds most popular sports, thanks to the geographic, cultural, stylistic, and racial diversity of its professionals. This diversity has cultivated passionate fans from various backgrounds. However, this wasnt always the case, as the sports leadership historically discouraged diversity. While many are familiar with the triumphs of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, fewer know the stories of the many talented Black players who, due to racial discrimination, were
barred from major tournaments.
For over fifty years before Gibsons victories, Black athletes competed in club and regional tournaments. In 1916, in response to being banned from segregated events, Black tennis enthusiasts formed the American Tennis Association (ATA) to provide a national competitive platform. Their struggle for equal access to tennis mirrored the broader struggle for civil rights in America.
The BTHOF was established to honor these trailblazers and those who supported their journeys. We commemorate their achievements by permanently inducting them.
The BTHOF logo, designed by Dale Caldwell and drawn by Paul Douglass Caldwell in 2008, features Dr. Walter Johnson, Althea Gibson, and Arthur Ashe, Jr. Dr. Johnson was the legendary coach of Gibson, the first African American world tennis champion, and Ashe, the first African American male world champion. The logo colors—red, black, and green—symbolize the blood shed for equal rights, the
people fighting for those rights, and the bountiful land where equality flourishes.
Join us in celebrating these incredible individuals and the rich history of Black tennis at this years Induction Ceremony. All related information for sponsorship, ticket sales, and souvenir journal ads is located on the website at https://www.blacktennishalloffame.com.
For additional information contact Shelia Curry, Chief Executive Officer, at
(804) 982-9459.
The Black Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501©3 organization dedicated to preserving the history of African American tennis and honoring those who made a global impact on the ideals of sportsmanship and human rights, with special consideration extended to those who overcame racial barriers. Through
the preservation of this history and commemoration of the rich legacies of these individuals, the education of tennis is elevated, thus empowering and inspiring individuals worldwide to meet the challenges of these concerns.
