Arthur Ashe was a world-class tennis player and a world-class father. He believed in leading by example.

“My wife and I talk about this with our six-year-old daughter," Ashe said in an interview just before his death. “Children are much more impressed by what they see you do than by what you say," he said. “Children at that age certainly keep you honest. If you have been preaching one thing all along and all of a sudden you don't do it, they're going to bring it right up in your face.

“I tell her it's not polite to eat with your elbows on the table. Then after dinner I'm putting my elbows up. She says , "˜Daddy, your elbows are on the table.' You have to be man enough, or woman enough, to say, "˜You're right,' and take your elbows down. In fact, that's an even stronger learning experienc…