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Alltime Best For Virginia's top 50 homegrown sports figures, go to SI.com/50
Arthur Ashe, Tennis player
Known for his class, courage and wicked forehand, the Richmond
native won 33 pro titles, including the U.S. Open as an amateur
in 1968 and Wimbledon in '75. After contracting AIDS from a blood
transfusion, he worked tirelessly for AIDS causes until his death
in 1993, at 49.
Lawrence Taylor, Football player
The ferocious outside linebacker from Williamsburg starred at
North Carolina before becoming one of the NFL's most dominating
defenders. In a 13-year pro career he had 1,088 tackles and 132
1/2 sacks and led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories.
Secretariat, Thoroughbred
Perhaps the greatest racehorse in history, Big Red (sired by 1957
Preakness winner Bold Ruler) was born at Meadow Farm, in Doswell.
He clinched the 1973 Triple Crown with a 31-length Belmont
victory. That year he made the covers of SI, TIME and Newsweek.
Bruce Smith, Football player
The Norfolk native and Outland Trophy-winning defensive end from
Virginia Tech has terrorized NFL quarterbacks for nearly two
decades. Now a Redskin, he has 196 1/2 career sacks, second only
to Reggie White's 198 on the alltime list.
Sam Snead, Golfer
Sweet-swinging Sammy holds the PGA Tour record for most wins
(81)--including a victory at the Greater Greensboro Open in '65
that made him, at 52, the oldest man to win a Tour event. Among
the Hot Springs native's seven Grand Slam wins are three Masters
titles.
Moses Malone, Basketball player
The 6'10" center from Petersburg became the first high schooler
to jump straight to the pros when he signed with the ABA's Utah
Stars in 1974. He later was named the NBA's MVP three times
(including in '82-83, when he led the 76ers to a title) and was a
12-time All-Star.
B/W PHOTO: LANE STEWART (ASHE)
COLOR PHOTO: AP (TAYLOR)
COLOR PHOTO: TIM SHARP/AP (SECRETARIAT)
COLOR PHOTO: MIKE GROLL/AP (SMITH)
B/W PHOTO: AP (SNEAD)
COLOR PHOTO: PETER READ MILLER (MALONE)
