Robert Walter Johnson (16 April 1899 – 28 June 1971) was an American physician and founder of the American Tennis Association Junior Development Program for African American youths, where he coached and fostered the careers of tennis greats, Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.

Johnson graduated in 1924 from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, a historically black college. He was a classmate of Melvin B. Tolson.

Johnson was the first African-American physician to receive practice rights at Lynchburg General Hospital in Virginia.Johnson continued his medical practice in Lynchburg for his entire career.

Known as the “godfather” of black tennis, Johnson founded an all-expenses-paid tennis camp for African-American children and hired instructors. In these years in the segregated South, they had no public courts where they could learn tennis, and many did not have money for lessons. Johnson was instrumental in encouraging the athletic careers of both Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, whom he personally coached. (source: Wikipedia)

“Whirlwind” is his story as told by Doug Smith.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Induction Ceremony in Newport RI. Lange Johnson accepts on behalf of his late grandfather, Dr. Robert Walter (Whirlwind) Johnson, coach and mentor to tennis greats Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe.