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FAMU Alumna Featured On Stamp

U.S. Postal Service

The first female athlete in the United States Postal Service’s Black Heritage Series is a Florida A&M University alumna.

Althea Gibson was the first African-American to win several major tennis tournaments, including Wimbledon.  And FAMU Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell , who  knew her when he was a child, says she had an impact off the court as well.

“From my perspective, she was a playground teacher. And obviously we liked her. But, we didn’t realize who was our playground teacher until she started to get the national recognition as a tennis star,” Mitchell says.

Gibson’s stamp features her dressed all in white during a match at Wimbledon, holding a period-correct wooden racquet as she stretches to attempt a volley.

Follow Regan McCarthy on twitter @Regan_McCarthy

Follow @Regan_McCarthy

Regan McCarthy covers healthcare and government in Tallahassee, Florida. She is the Assistant News Director for WFSU Public Media.

Phone: (850) 645-6090 | rmccarthy@fsu.edu

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories here.