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Born in 1927 in South Carolina, where her parents
were sharecroppers, Gibson moved to Harlem,
By Christine R. Gonzalez
Wrightsville Beach Magazine’s top 25 features some of the famous folks who have lived
or owned a home here, and whose name is – or should be – familiar to the average
person on the street. The list will no doubt spark debate. Someone who is famous to
the under-35ers might not be the same to the over-35ers.
and lived with sponsor Dr. Hubert Eaton. Gibson smashed
color barriers, becoming the first black woman to capture a
Grand Slam title when she won the French Championships
in 1956. She went on to win five Grand Slam singles titles.
In 1964 she became the first black woman to compete on the
Ladies Professional Golf Association tour.
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notable names FAMOUS FOLKS WHO HAVE
CALLED WILMINGTON HOME
10 ALTHEA GIBSON
spent time in a children’s shelter, then moved to Wilming-ton,
where she attended Williston Industrial High School
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www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
7 MEADOWLARK LEMON
Meadow Lemon III was born in Wilmington in 1932. He joined the Harlem
Globetrotters in 1954 and delighted fans with his talent and comedic flair in
more than 16,000 appearances with the touring basketball troupe. He was also
an ordained minister and appeared in many commercials and TV cartoons.
8 DAVID BRINKLEY
Brinkley was a print and television journalist whose 50-plus year career
began at the Wilmington Morning Star while a student at New Hanover
High School. He anchored the NBC Nightly News for many years before moving
to ABC and hosting This Week with David Brinkley. He won 10 Emmys and was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
9SONNY JURGENSEN
Born in Wilmington, Christian Adolph Jurgensen III was an all-around
athlete, performing well in a number of sports and playing multiple
positions on his football teams. But he excelled at quarterback, starring at New
Hanover High, Duke University, and in the NFL from 1957-74 with the Phil-adelphia
Eagles and Washington Redskins. He led the league in passing three
times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
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