Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993 TAG: 9302070225
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
'AMERICA HAS LOST A GREAT HERO'
One of the best men of his time.A great leader.
A very loving friend.
And a tremendous tennis player.
That's how America remembered Arthur Ashe, who died Saturday night of AIDS-related pneumonia.
"Not only was Arthur a leading figure and pioneer for minorities in sports and business, but also in the fight against HIV and AIDS," Magic Johnson said in a statement. "He was one of the best men of his generation, and his loss is a loss for all of us.
"If one can look for hope, however, on this very sad occasion, it is that this is yet another compelling reminder of just how important it is to find a cure for this horrible disease. My prayers and those of my wife, Cookie, are with Arthur's family," he said.
Ashe was a champion of human-rights causes even before he joined Johnson in the fight against AIDS. Johnson's NBA career was cut short after he tested positive for HIV.
"America has lost a great hero, not just for Afro-Americans but for all folks because of the integrity and the honor of what he was all about," said Rayford L. Harris, who worked with Ashe on community projects in Richmond.
The news of Ashe's death came during a pro tennis tournament in San Francisco. Before the match between Jimmy Connors and Brad Gilbert, the crowd at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium stood for a moment of silence in honor of Ashe.
"He was out there doing things, taking care of business to the end," Connors said.
"He had a style and a form all his own. He didn't copy anyone's game. He made his mark not just in tennis, but in world events."
Ashe became the only black to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon when he upset Connors in 1975.
"A great leader has been taken away," player Tim Mayotte said. "It's a tragic moment. For someone to come through this much adversity is a real inspiration.
"I saw him not too long ago, and he was talking about how well he was feeling. I certainly wasn't prepared for this to happen."
Barry MacKay, director of the tournament in San Francisco, knew Ashe for more than 30 years.
"I have always admired his courage, respected his integrity and have been impressed by all he has done for so many," MacKay said. "Arthur's passing represents a tremendous loss for tennis and the world beyond."
A 10-bell tribute to Ashe was sounded at Madison Square Garden before the Michael Dokes-Riddick Bowe heavyweight championship fight.
"Not only have I lost a dear personal friend, America has lost a model giant," said Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, who was described by an aide as "terribly saddened" by the news of Ashe's death.
Wilder often made references to how Ashe never harbored bitter feelings toward Richmond, Ashe's hometown, even though the opportunities for him to improve as a young tennis player were limited by the segregation practiced during that era.
"His leadership may not be confined to athletics and sports alone," Wilder said, "for he was totally committed to improving the lives of those yet to enjoy the full fruition of rights and opportunities in this country."
New York Mayor David Dinkins, an avid tennis fan, said Ashe was one of his idols on and off the court. Ashe and the mayor played tennis together many times and were close friends off the court, said Jennifer Kimball, a spokeswoman for the mayor.
"Tonight, I have lost a very dear and very loving friend, Arthur Ashe," Dinkins said in a statement. "Simply put, words cannot suffice to capture a career as glorious, a life so fully lived, or a commitment to justice as firm and as fair as was his. Nor can words suffice to capture the sense of loss I feel in knowing he is no longer among us.
"From his very early youth, Arthur Ashe, always kept his eye on the ball, not just on the tennis court but in every single aspect of his life," Dinkins said. "He celebrated the many championships he won, the many records he set. But day in and day out, always he wondered about and worried for those less fortunate than he."