Legendary tennis champion Maureen Connolly Brinker was honored by USPS this week for her pioneering achievements in the sport.
Nicknamed “Little Mo,” the 5-foot-4-inch dynamo dominated the tennis world in the early 1950s, using powerful groundstrokes to become the first woman to win all four major tennis tournaments in a calendar year.
During the April 23 ceremony in Dallas, Connolly Brinker (1934–1969) was also praised for years of work promoting tennis to young people after a 1954 horseback riding accident ended her brief career.
“The history-making tennis career of Maureen Connolly Brinker … combined with the gracious spirit she exhibited after her career abruptly ended, is emblematic of the type of character and courage that we strive to spotlight on our stamps,” said Janice Walker, the Postal Service’s corporate communications vice president, who led the dedication.
The stamp — which is available at Post Offices and usps.com — features an oil painting of the tennis star hitting a low volley. The portrait is based on a 1952 black-and-white photo.
Joining Walker to unveil the stamp were Cindy Brinker Simmons, Brinker’s daughter and president of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation; Katherine Chabot Willette, the world’s sixth-ranked singles player in 1961; John Isner, currently the world’s highest-ranked American tennis player; R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University, where the ceremony was held; and radio and TV host Scott Murray, who emceed the event.
Brinker Simmons said her mother would be “thrilled and absolutely humbled” by the new stamp.
“Her magnificent impact on tennis continues to be admired and propels her astounding legacy forward,” she said.
