HISTORIC – Dr. Johnson & Project

HISTORIC | Dr. Johnson & Project

THE WHIRLWIND JOHNSON FOUNDATION, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION PROJECT!

A GRANT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO START TO REVAMP THE DR. JOHNSON TENNIS COURT AND HOME! I WILL ADD MORE PICTURES AND UPDATES ON THE PROJECT, AND HOW IT IS COMING ALONG! THE HOME IS LOCATED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY PARENTS OLD HOME, (I STILL OWN IT) SO YOU KNOW I’LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT! THE HOME AND FUTURE TENNIS COURT IS LOCATED AT 1422 PIERCE ST. LYNCHBURG, VA!

LANGE JOHNSON RECENTLY SENT ME HISTORIC INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT!

BELOW THE PICTURES ARE LINKS TO VIDEOS, HISTORY, AND THE DONATION PAGE IF YOU WANT TO HELP!

IF THERE WERE NOT TENNIS GREATS AND COACHES, THERE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN PLAYERS LIKE THE GREAT WILLIAMS SISTERS! ME, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO DR. JOHNSON, MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN TENNIS? IF I HAD, I MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN INTERESTED IN RADIO…WHAT THEN? I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS SPORTS HISTORY LESSON IN PICTURES!

Here is the future of the court...The grading has been done!

The side fence rails are up! More to come!

The fence is up, and the night floodlights!

The damaged water main has been replaced and reconnected!

Spring should resume the building of the tennis court and Dr. J's home! More to come!

Here's Lenny Simpson, Waltee Johnson Moore, Dr. Melvin Pinn!

A Kodak moment for two TV personalities....Andre Whitehead, Valencia Jones!

Eileen Johnson, Dr. Melvin Pinn, Lange Johnson, Rev Carl B. Hutcherson Jr!

Always on the Tennis court, Elmer & Maxine Reid!

It was a beautiful ribbon cutting event!

To go to the Whirlwind Johnson Foundation and get the latest in how the project is coming along!
(CLICK HERE)

Watch this youtube video about Dr. J and Tennis History!
(CLICK HERE)

Here is Lange Johnson’s acceptance speech for Dr. Johnsons ITHF Class of 2009!
(CLICK HERE)

If you would like to donate to this great cause, and keep Tennis alive in Lynchburg!
(CLICK HERE)

Go to Tennis History page for pictures of Tennis greats and more!

(CLICK HERE)

DR. JOHNSON, INSPIRATION FOR ALL TENNIS GREATS! HERE ARE A FEW SHOTS OF EARLY TENNIS GREATS, A FEW WHO PRACTICED IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR YOU TO ENJOY!

Oscar Johnson, the first Black to win the USTL!

Here is Jimmy McDaniels who won three star titles!

Dr. J's home, across the street from my parents house!

Dr. Johnson's Laundromat on 5th St! My parents used to wash and dry a lot of clothes there in the 60's!

Fred Johnson! Althea Gibson's first coach....he played tennis with only one arm!

Althea Gibson the star of a ticker-tape parade!

Tennis Group, The Reids! They also lived across the street from Dr. J's court!

Tennis Group, Bottom row center, Elmer Reid!

Juan Farrow, who lived next door to Dr. J's court!

Arthur Ashe won the US open, Forest Hills in 1968! Here is Arthur with his Dad!

Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon in 1975 over Jimmy Conners!

IF THERE WERE NOT TENNIS GREATS AND COACHES, THERE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN PLAYERS LIKE THE GREAT WILLIAMS SISTERS! ME, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO DR. JOHNSON, MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN TENNIS? IF I HAD, I MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN INTERESTED IN RADIO…WHAT THEN? I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS SPORTS HISTORY LESSION IN PICTURES!

HISTORIC | Dr. Johnson & Project

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