Althea GIBSON was an American tennis player and professional golfer. She was the first African American to win a Grand Slam title in 1956, and the first African American to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971. She was also the first African American to compete on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in 1964. GIBSON was a trailblazer in the world of sports, breaking down racial barriers and inspiring generations of athletes.