Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was an American World No. 1 professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles, ranking him among the best tennis players from the United States.Ashe, an African American, was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, or the Australian Open. He retired in 1980. He was ranked World No. 1 by Harry Hopman in 1968 and by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and World Tennis Magazine in 1975. In the ATP computer rankings, he peaked at No. 2 in May 1976.In the early 1980s, Ashe is believed to have contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during heart bypass surgery. Ashe publicly announced his illness in April 1992 and began working to educate others about HIV and AIDS. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health before his death from AIDS-related pneumonia on February 6, 1993.On June 20, 1993, Ashe was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then United States President Bill Clinton.
February 6, 1993, New York City, New York, United States
Place Of Birth
Richmond, Virginia, USA
Height
6' 1" (1.85 m)
Profession
Actor
Spouse
Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (m. 1977–1993)
Children
Camera Ashe
Siblings
Johnnie Ashe
Awards
BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, Presidential Medal of Freedom
Star Sign
Cancer
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Quote
1
True heroism is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
2
When bright young minds can't afford college, America pays the price.
3
I don't care who you are, you're going to choke in certain matches. You get to a point where your legs don't move and you can't take a deep breath. You start to hit the ball about a yard wide, instead of inches.
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Fact
1
Children: (with wife Jeanne) daughter Camera Ashe (adopted, b. December 21, 1986). She was named after her mother's profession.
2
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 31-33. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
3
Inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 1994 (inaugural induction).
4
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.
5
Pictured on a 37¢ USA commemorative postage stamp issued in his honor on 27 August 2005.
6
Is an honorary member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
7
Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 1998.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Day After
1983
TV Movie
Newscaster (uncredited)
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Hard Road to Glory
1986
TV Movie documentary
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Baseball
1994
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
In a New Light: A Call to Action in the War Against AIDS
$4 Million
