LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Long Beach has named its new main library after tennis star and women’s rights activist Billie Jean King, who was born and raised in the city.
King was at the ceremony Saturday to officially open the Billie Jean King Main Library, a 92,000-square-foot, $42 million building that is part of the redevelopment of the Long Beach Civic Center, the Press Telegram reports.
King said: “Today, I’ve come full circle in my return to Long Beach. Without the people of Long Beach, I never, ever would have had the opportunity to launch my tennis career, and travel the world, and have a platform to hopefully make a difference in the lives of others.”
King, 75, holds 12 Grand Slam singles titles and is considered the leading driving force behind women’s professional tennis.
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