” True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” –Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe, a star tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s, is now remembered as much for his actions off the tennis court as on. That speaks volumes, as Ashe was a great tennis player. Jack Kramer ranked him as one of the top 21 players of all-time. He was the only African-American to win at Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the U.S. Open.

Off the court, he was a civil rights leader noted for his strong anti-apartheid stance. After contacting AIDs himself from a blood transfusion, he did much to call attention to the deadly disease. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS. He started the National Junior Tennis League and served as Captain of the U.S. Davie Cup team.

Throughout his tennis career, and after, he was noted for the grace and dignity in which he related to others. The NCAA ranked him #2 on most influential student-athletes (behind only Jackie Robinson). He lived by his own words, “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”

A student put this video on Arthur Ashe together for a history class: