County officials unveil Ashe mural at Henrico Sports and Events Center

The late Arthur Ashe Jr. was a trailblazing giant on the tennis court and in advocating for human rights and social change. Now, the Richmond native is celebrated in a larger-than-life mural at the Henrico Sports and Events Center.

Henrico County officials, members of Ashe’s family and others unveiled the mural Feb. 4 to kick off Black History Month. It’s vinyl mounted on a wall among exhibits of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and includes interactive features available through a mobile app. Ashe, a native of Richmond, was inducted into the Hall in 1979.

The 16-by-12-foot work – titled “Arthur Ashe’s Journey” – commemorates Ashe’s extensive accomplishments and career milestones, which include becoming the first Black player to win a men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1975.

“These displays of excellence are intentional, and we hope they will inspire, educate, and serve as reminders of incredible achievements of outstanding Virginians that represent the Hall of Fame,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III, of the Fairfield District. “Even beyond the championship legacy that Mr. Ashe forged on the tennis court, his humanitarianism and activism left an indelible mark on matters of health, civil rights and social justice.”

For his work, which includes interactive features through a mobile app, artist Hezekiyah Baylor drew inspiration from Ashe’s quote, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson said the message is simple but powerful – a challenge to take immediate action and to seize opportunities.

“‘Do what you can’ can be perceived as a call to action,” Nelson said. “Start small. Take the first step. When faced with challenge, Mr. Ashe did not make excuses but instead faced adversity head on. One of the messages from this piece, especially a message for all young people who will walk down this hall, is to keep going and don’t let anyone or anything ever stop you.”

Ashe’s nephew David Harris Jr. called the mural “phenomenal” and said he appreciates Baylor’s vision and Henrico’s support in making it a reality. The unveiling evoked the same pride he felt in 2019 when the City of Richmond honored his uncle with the naming of Arthur Ashe Boulevard, he said.

“We’re hoping that this will invoke some questions and invoke and encourage people to start do a little bit of research, find out what he was about, find out who he influenced, find out how he influenced and how he went about it,” Harris said.

The Sports and Events Center has attracted nearly 400,000 visitors, including many youth athletes, since opening in late 2023.

“For children, I hope that this mural gives them a sense of encouragement, to know that they’re the new Arthur Ashes of the future,” said Baylor, a 1991 graduate of Hermitage High School.

The Sports and Events Center, at 1 All Star Boulevard in Glen Allen, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends, based upon the events schedule.

To learn more about Ashe and his accomplishments, watch “Hometown Hero: Arthur Ashe, Jr.,” which was produced by Henrico County Television in 2014.