Gallery of Champions #2

 

 

Margaret (L) and Matilda Roumaina (R) Peters both graduated from Tuskeegee University and both became school teachers.

They were born in Washington, DC in 1915 and 1917 respectively.

They won so many ATA National Doubles titles that they were nicknamed “Pete and Repeat.”

They won ATA National Doubles titles in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953.

This record of 14 National Doubles titles remains unequaled to this day.

Matilda died on May 16, 2003.

The Peters sisters were inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012.

 

   

George Stewart was born in Panama in 1923.

He was the first Black to compete in the NCAA.

He won ATA National Singles titles in 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957 and 1964.

He won ATA National Doubles titles in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1956 and 1957.

His partner for four of these titles was Dr. Hubert Eaton (former president of the ATA).

His partner for the 1957 title was John Chandler.

George Stewart

 

 


   

Oscar Johnson became the first Black to win a USLTA tournament when he won the National Junior Public Parks tournament in Los Angeles in 1948.

He was recognized as the “Jackie Robinson” of tennis signifying his breaking of the color barrier.

Oscar played mixed doubles in the U.S. National Championships in 1953 with Althea Gibson reaching the 1/4 finals.

 

 


   

Dr. Reginald Weir was born in Washington D.C.

He was captain of the tennis team for City College of New York (CCNY).

He was the first Black man to play in a USLTA National tournament, the National Indoor Championships held at the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City.

He graduated from medical school and became known as the “Black Bill Tilden” because of his power and versatility.


 

 

   

Dr. Richard (Dick) Cohen was a graduate of Xavier University and a college teammate of Jimmie McDaniel.

He later graduated from medical school.

Dr. Cohen won ATA National Doubles titles in 1939 and 1941, but is probably most noted as a competitor in the historic doubles match when Don Budge visited the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club in 1940.

Dr. Cohen and McDaniel competed against Don Budge and Dr. Reginald Weir.

Dr. Richard Cohen
 

 


   

Billy Davis was born in New York City  on January 6, 1930.

At the age of 10, he was a ballboy for the historic match between Don Budge and Jimmie McDaniel.

He played tennis for- and graduated from Tennessee A&I.

Billy won the 11 ATA National titles spanning a period of nearly 30 years.

He won the Boys 15 singles in 1945, the Jr. Boys 18 Doubles in 1945, the Boys 18 singles in 1948.

He won the ATA Men’s singles titles in 1958, 1959, 1963, 1966 and 1967.

He won ATA National Men’s Doubles titles in 1954 and 1962 and finally the ATA National Men’s 45 Singles title in 1978.

Wilbert (Billy) Davis
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