Arthur Ashe Commemorative Stamp Unveiled

Here's a story that has a few twists and turns. I have a Google news alert sent to me for three or four things. One is "Richmond, VA" since I lived there so long. Today I got a news clipping that the Bangkok Post(!) was reporting that The US Post Office was honoring Richmond VA native Arthur Ashe with a commemorative stamp.


I feel close to the Arthur Ashe story, because I followed his presence, though I don't think I ever actually saw him, in Richmond --- well maybe in a parade. I passed the tennis courts often where he had been excluded as a youngster, I followed the battles of the area snobs and worse who finally had to accept a wonderful statue to him on Monument Avenue, the great divided boulevard in the fan that was previously only lined with bronze Robert E. Lee on horseback and other Confederate heroes.

I saw his funeral pass me at work in 1993. I was standing at our counter, looking out the plate glass windows, and I happened to be talking on the phone to a supplier in California at the time, who was so interested, she had me tell her the story and describe the details as he passed.