NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland – Praising athletics, particularly intercollegiate athletics, for providing a “special place” for participants, tennis great and women’s sports advocate Billie Jean King accepted the NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award before a packed ballroom at the NCAA Convention’s opening business session January 15.

King is the seventh recipient of the award, which honors individuals who have provided significant leadership as an advocate for higher education and intercollegiate athletics on a continual basis. She recognized three previous recipients– former Iowa Women’s Athletics Director Christine Grant (whom King called her “she-ro”), Title IX advocate Birch Bayh and former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden – as influencing her own life.

“Sports takes us to a special place,” said King, who was a tennis student-athlete at Cal State Los Angeles and went on to win 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed-doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon. “For me, sports is about integrating mind, body and soul – it’s about learning to stay in the now when times are difficult, about teaching character and learning about yourself,” King said. “It’s amazing how sports transforms the person but also connects us.”

King accepted the award from Executive Committee Chair and Georgia President Michael Adams and then quickly abandoned the opening business session podium to move freely and energetically about the stage to engage a riveted Convention audience.

“I had an epiphany when I was 12,” she said. “I had played tennis for only a year by then but I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to equal rights. I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

King was one of nine players who broke away from the tennis establishment, leading to the birth of women’s professional tennis. In 1973, King lobbied for and obtained equal prize money for both genders at the U.S. Open. Also in 1973, she founded the Women’s Tennis Association. In 1974, she created the Women’s Sports Foundation and Women’s Sports Magazine.

Since founding the Women’s Sports Foundation, King has led the organization in its mission to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. In the past 34 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $50 million in educational and cash grants to advance participation, research and leadership in sports and physical activity for girls and women.

She also is known for her historic 1973 match against Bobby Riggs, dubbed “the Battle of the Sexes.” The 1973 match is widely considered to be one of the greatest moments in sports history, remembered for its effect on society’s view of women.

While King was effusive in thanking delegates for “making a difference in student-athletes’ lives,” she also urged them to maintain lifetime sports offerings (such as tennis, swimming, golf and others) at their institutions, even in the face of tough financial times. “Don’t abandon lifetime sports,” she said. By offering those, King said “you give the gift of health for future generations.”

In honor of King, the NCAA will donate an honorarium to the institution of her choice for the benefit of student-athletes.

The Ford Award is named for the late 38th president of the United States. Ford played football at Michigan where he participated on national championship teams in 1932 and 1933.