Sandwiched around those two sets of tennis courts, Moffitt from 1961-‘64 had attended what was then called Los Angeles State College (the name changed in 1964). A full decade before the passage of Title IX, there were no college scholarships for women. Billie Jean held two jobs, one as a playground instructor at an elementary school, the other handing out athletic equipment at LA State.
Driving her burgundy 1950 Ford sedan from Long Beach each day, she loved life as an undergraduate. “The value of a good education has always been important to me, and I learned a great deal while I was on this campus,” King said in her speech. “You know why? I talked to all the professors, asking questions. I talked to students. I didn’t go to class as much as I should have, because I was so interested in everyone.”
Prior to the outdoor dedication ceremony, King had spoken inside the school’s gym to all of its varsity athletes, men and women gathered from Cal State LA’s tennis, golf, volleyball, track and field, soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. The talk was highly motivational, highlighted by three key King messages: relationships are everything, keep learning, and, be a problem-solver and an innovator.
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