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| '''''Ora Mae Washington''''' (January 23, 1898 - 1971) was an ] athlete from the ] section of Northwest ], ], known as the "Queen of Tennis".<ref name=leader>Edmonds, Arlene November 10, 2004. ''The Leader'', "". Accessed May 2, 2008.</ref> | '''''Ora Mae Washington''''' (], ] - 1971) was an ] athlete from the ] section of Northwest ], ], known as the "Queen of Tennis".<ref name=leader>Edmonds, Arlene ], ]. ''The Leader'', "". Accessed ], ].</ref> | ||
| ==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| In professional tennis, she won the ]'s national singles title eight times in nine years between 1929-1937 and 12 straight double championships.<ref name=leader/> | In professional tennis, she won the ]'s national singles title eight times in nine years between 1929-1937 and 12 straight double championships.<ref name=leader/> | ||
| She played basketball first in 1930 with the ] where her 22-1 record earned her the national female title. Later, palying with the ] from 1932-1942, she was the team's center, leading scorer, and coach.<ref name=leader/> The "Tribune Girls" won 11 straight Women’s Colored Basketball World’s Championships. Washington was said to be "the best Colored player in the world."<ref>"". Accessed May 2, 2008.</ref> | She played basketball first in 1930 with the ] where her 22-1 record earned her the national female title. Later, palying with the ] from 1932-1942, she was the team's center, leading scorer, and coach.<ref name=leader/> The "Tribune Girls" won 11 straight Women’s Colored Basketball World’s Championships. Washington was said to be "the best Colored player in the world."<ref>"". Accessed ], ].</ref> | ||
| Unable to compete against the top white tennis player of the time, ], because Moody refused to play her,<ref>Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. ". Accessed ] 2008.</ref> she retired from sports in the mid-1940s. For the remainder of her life, she supported herself as a housekeeper. She died in 1971 in Germantown and was buried in her Virginia hometown.<ref name=leader/> | Unable to compete against the top white tennis player of the time, ], because Moody refused to play her,<ref>Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. ". Accessed ] 2008.</ref> she retired from sports in the mid-1940s. For the remainder of her life, she supported herself as a housekeeper. She died in 1971 in Germantown and was buried in her Virginia hometown.<ref name=leader/> | ||
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| In the mid-1980s, she was inducted to ]'s Sports ].<ref name=leader/> | In the mid-1980s, she was inducted to ]'s Sports ].<ref name=leader/> | ||
| A state historical marker stands at the location of the ] she taught and played at, at 6128 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, now home to ].<ref>Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "". Accessed May 1, 2008.</ref><ref name=leader/> | A state historical marker stands at the location of the ] she taught and played at, at 6128 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, now home to ].<ref>Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "". Accessed ], ].</ref><ref name=leader/> | ||
| ==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 05:22, 17 November 2008
| Ora Mae Washington | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1898-01-23)January 23, 1898 |
| Died | December 21, 1971(1971-12-21) (aged 73) |
Ora Mae Washington (January 23, 1898 - 1971) was an African American athlete from the Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the "Queen of Tennis".
Life
In professional tennis, she won the American Tennis Association's national singles title eight times in nine years between 1929-1937 and 12 straight double championships.
She played basketball first in 1930 with the Germantown Hornets where her 22-1 record earned her the national female title. Later, palying with the Philadelphia Tribunes from 1932-1942, she was the team's center, leading scorer, and coach. The "Tribune Girls" won 11 straight Women’s Colored Basketball World’s Championships. Washington was said to be "the best Colored player in the world."
Unable to compete against the top white tennis player of the time, Helen Wills Moody, because Moody refused to play her, she retired from sports in the mid-1940s. For the remainder of her life, she supported herself as a housekeeper. She died in 1971 in Germantown and was buried in her Virginia hometown.
In the mid-1980s, she was inducted to Temple University's Sports Hall of Fame.
A state historical marker stands at the location of the Colored YWCA she taught and played at, at 6128 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, now home to Settlement Music School.
Further reading
- Wiggins, David K. (editor) Out of the Shadows: A Biographical History of African American Athletes. University of Arkansas Press, 2006.
See also
References
- ^ Edmonds, Arlene November 10, 2004. The Leader, "State Historic Marker dedicated - Tennis and basketball legend remembered". Accessed May 2, 2008.
- "All Hail The Philadelphia Tribune Girls". Accessed May 2, 2008.
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "Image". Accessed 20May 2008.
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "Search for Historical Markers". Accessed May 1, 2008.