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ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 59
BY REPRESENTATIVE WALTERS
A RESOLUTION
To commend Shreveport native Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis stars Venus
and Serena Williams, for his many achievements.
WHEREAS, it is most fitting to recognize Richard Williams, the father and coach
of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, and to commend his many achievements; and
WHEREAS, Richard Williams grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and lived with his
mother, Julia, and siblings in a three-room shack on East Seventy-Ninth Street; he was the
oldest child and had four sisters: Pat, Barbara, Penny, and Faye; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is best known as the father and coach of Venus and
Serena Williams; his daughters won thirty combined grand slam singles titles and competed
against each other in nine finals matches; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams's daughters won seventeen doubles titles in only thirty-
three major appearances, and they have three gold medals in Olympic tennis doubles; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams stood out from many other coaching fathers; he was an
especially supportive parent who not only trained his daughters to compete in tennis but also
to be proud and independent young women; and
WHEREAS, Richard Williams is truly deserving of the highest recognition for his
unprecedented coaching legacy and for emerging from incredibly difficult circumstances to
raise the two greatest competitors in women's tennis history.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Shreveport native Richard Williams, the
father and coach of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, for his many achievements and
does hereby express enduring gratitude for his trailblazing contributions to professional
tennis.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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