Messenger - Vol. 3, No. 2, Page 6
Winter 1994
Billie Jean at dinner

     Billie Jean King, one of the most successful women's tennis players in
the history of the sport, will be guest speaker April 23 at a gala dinner
celebrating 25 years of women's athletics at the University.
     Capping a yearlong celebration, the dinner will be held at Clayton
Hall and will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception. Cost of the dinner is $35.
For further information, call Mary Ann Hitchens, associate director of
athletics, at (302) 831-4505.
     King, a 1990 inductee into the National Women's Hall of Fame, was
ranked No. 1 in the world five times and in the U.S. seven times and holds
a record 20 Wimbledon titles and 13 U.S. Open titles. Her "Battle of the
Sexes" match with Bobby Riggs in 1973 still holds the record for the most
people to attend a tennis match at 30,472. She is currently director of
World TeamTennis, which has attracted more than 335,000 participants to its
recreational leagues.
     Other anniversary events scheduled for Saturday, April 23, are a 5K
run/walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Delaware Stadium, followed by a chicken
barbecue tailgate for alumna athletes at 11:30 a.m. at the stadium complex.
Intercollegiate contests will feature the Blue Hen women's lacrosse squad
hosting Villanova at 1 p.m. and the softball team hosting a double header
with Lafayettte at 1 p.m. In addition, both the women's lacrosse and
softball teams will be holding alumni games Sunday, April 24.
     For more information on any of these events, call (302) 831-2186.