LYNCHBURG, Va. — A historical signpost here at 1422 Pierce Street tells the story of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, who fostered generations of African-American tennis stars on a court next to his home there. From 1951 to 1971, hundreds of players learned tennis and discipline under...
When Venus Williams steps onto Centre Court at Wimbledon on Saturday to vie for her sixth title, she will be following in the footsteps of a black tennis pioneer. Sixty years ago this month, Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a championship at...
As Wimbledon gets underway in London, tennis will be a dominate discussion for several weeks. The world may have its eyes on the tournament, but it reminds us in the states of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, the putative godfather of Black tennis. The “godfather” appellation is...
When Dr. J wasn’t making his rounds at Lynchburg General Hospital, he was molding tennis legends at his home and personal tennis court on Pierce Street. More than 40 years after the death of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, a foundation created to preserve his legacy continues...
Decades ago at 1442 Pierce Street in Lynchburg, VA, a physician was quietly making history in the two-story house and adjoining tennis court. The man was Dr. R. Walter Johnson, nicknamed “Whirlwind” from his career as a college running back, and on that court he...
In the space of just a few blocks just past Main Street that wrap around downtown Lynchburg can be found a treasure trove of the history of Central Virginia’s African-American community. Fifth Street, for decades, was the cultural and economic black “Main Street,” home of a...
This home tucked away on the corner of Pierce Street now worn with time was once a center of excellence. "It's just kind of a special place and it's more deserving of a better look than it has right now," said Evan Smith. Smith's great grandfather Dr....
Some of the greatest players in tennis history once played on an ordinary court that sits beside a two-story house on Pierce Street in Lynchburg. Richmond’s Arthur Ashe took the first major step toward what would become a legendary career there. Althea Gibson, the first African-American...
African-American tennis players, from Althea Gibson to Serena Williams, can trace their roots from the grass courts of Wimbledon back to a small, two-story house at 1422 Pierce St. in Lynchburg. That’s where Robert W. Johnson, a local doctor, decided to build a tennis court and...
Ladies and Gentleman, honored guests, members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, members of the Class of 2009, it is a tremendous honor to be here with you today. This is no doubt a great day for the Johnson Family, but more...