David O. Harris Jr. is the driving force behind renaming the Boulevard in Richmond for Arthur Ashe Jr., the late Richmond native who made his mark on the tennis court and on the world stage as a civil and human rights advocate and philanthropist.

Now the nephew of Mr. Ashe will see his dream come true this weekend. The 2.5-mile roadway that has been known for decades simply as the Boulevard will be dedicated this weekend as Arthur Ashe Jr. Boulevard.

Mr. Harris received permission from his aunt, Mr. Ashe’s widow Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, to undertake the renaming effort.

Mr. Harris will offer remarks during the official dedication and unveiling ceremony 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. The ceremony is the capstone of a three-day, city-sponsored celebration to honor Mr. Ashe.

Early efforts to rename the Boulevard in Mr. Ashe’s honor began in 1993, the year he died. But City Council struck down proposals to rename the street in 1993 and 2003. However, advocates remained undaunted. And the 45-year-old Mr. Harris, who spearheaded the latest efforts that started in early 2018, was successful.

“I was elated,” Mr. Harris says, adding it was “relief and validation that Richmond was ready to do bigger and better things.”

Mr. Ashe was born July 10, 1943, in Richmond and attended Maggie L. Walker High School. He began playing tennis on courts at Brookfield Park on North Side, where his father was the park ranger, and later at Battery Park. Brookfield Park was later razed to make way for Richmond’s current Main Post Office.

Richmond’s apartheid system of segregation prevented him from playing on the whites-only courts at Byrd Park, located at the southern end of what is now Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

Despite the obstacles, Mr. Ashe went on to become an international tennis champion, winning the men’s single’s title at the U.S. Open in 1968, the Australian Open in 1970 and Wimbledon in 1975. He remains the only black man to win the three titles.

He was the first African-American to selected to the U.S. Davis Cup Team, which he later coached.

Mr. Ashe died at age 49 on Feb. 6, 1993, from AIDS-related pneumonia. He contracted the disease from a blood transfusion during heart-bypass surgery in the 1980s. He held a news conference to announce his illness in 1992 and began working to educate and advocate on behalf of those with HIV and AIDS, setting up the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS to boost research efforts.

President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in June 1993 for his achievements on the court, his advocacy for civil and human rights in the United States and abroad, as well as his efforts on behalf of AIDS/HIV education and research.

Despite all of Mr. Ashe’s plaudits and celebrity, Mr. Harris says he and his uncle had a normal familial relationship.

“It was a genuine relationship and very casual,” Mr. Harris says. “It was like anyone being with their favorite uncle — sitting down to chat or calling to ask a question and getting some guidance.

“My uncle and I did traditional things — going to the movies and sending each other gifts,” Mr. Harris says. “He was an extension of my parents. My parents and the older generation taught us to be purposeful, cool and calm, as well as not to act on emotion or feeling,” Mr. Harris says. “The world saw those family values through my uncle as he played on the global sports stage.”

Mr. Harris says Mr. Ashe introduced him at age 9 to tennis during a visit to Florida, where Mr. Ashe lived later on. Mr. Harris grew to love the game and honed his skills at Battery Park in Richmond’s North Side.

“My uncle sent me to the International Management Group tennis academy and I eventually played on Virginia Union University’s tennis team on a scholarship,” Mr. Harris says.

Although Ms. Harris admired his uncle’s athletic accomplishments, he says, “I know him more from his body of work in civil rights, AIDS/HIV research paving the way for untainted blood supplies for transfusions, philanthropy and dedication to eradicate apartheid, which affected Africa as well as the world. He was a true example of an athlete turned global educator. Those things carried more weight than his accomplishments in sports.”

As Richmond is poised to honor Mr. Ashe this weekend, Mr. Harris says the city “still has more work to do.”

“Get involved and be inclusive,” he says. “Voice your opinions in mindful ways so they can be recognized and heard.”

Meet the man behind renaming Arthur Ashe Boulevard and this week’s Personality, David O. Harris Jr.:

Date and place of birth: Sept. 2 in Richmond.

Current residence: Henrico County.

Education: Hermitage High School, Class of 1992; bachelor’s in banking and finance, Virginia Union University.

Family: A stepson, Desmond Claytor, 26; and nephew of the late Arthur Ashe Jr.

Why Arthur Ashe Jr. should be honored in Richmond: My uncle is one of our greatest heroes. His legacy and work has stood the test of time. This is the prime opportunity for the Richmond community to permanently acknowledge his attributes, stature and accomplishments.

The things he was fighting for and encouraging to change we are still dealing with today. His body of work is still relevant and an example we should look at to move forward and improve our lifestyle.

Why is the Boulevard the right road to rename in Mr. Ashe’s honor: From a historical standpoint, the Boulevard starts at Brookland Parkway and ends at Byrd Park, where my uncle was denied the opportunity to play tennis when he was young during segregation. The Boulevard, which has no name, extends through the middle of the city and is a gateway to Downtown.

Your role in getting this honor approved: I lobbied, had conversations, researched the cost of changing the name, getting the information to Richmond City Council, the Scott’s Addition community organization and any other group supporting the effort. I made sure people were notified about what we were trying to do, as well as encouraged people to support us. We wanted to show the children of the city that we were able to change things and the right way to do it.

Did you have concerns City Council may not approve the name change: This is the third time we have tried to place Arthur Ashe’s name on the boulevard. We knew there would be a slight opportunity that the name change would not happen. We stayed the course and let people know our real purpose was to encourage, collaborate and be inclusive, as well as to show my uncle was a man of the people.

How did you feel when City Council approved it: I was elated — relief and validation that Richmond was ready to do bigger and better things. My family and I are extremely proud (of the outcome). We are especially proud of the people helping us along the way to get this renaming off the ground. I am very proud of the people planning the celebration and appreciate the many talented people in the city.

How I will feel when the new street signs officially are unveiled: Elated and jubilant over the joyous occasion.

Who do you credit with helping to making it happen: The project’s lobbying team, City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, the Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the people lobbying on our behalf, verbally and anonymously.

What is Arthur Ashe’s legacy: His belief in education and inclusiveness, immediate and extended family, people and growth and working through our differences to make a better world.

Is Mr. Ashe still impacting the city: Yes, and I hope naming the Boulevard after my uncle will increase his impact on Richmond. We can take this opportunity to educate the next generation about my uncle’s body of work.

Is Mr. Ashe adequately honored with the name change: I hope Arthur Ashe will look down on us with approval as he sees what we have planned. I also hope the people participating in the ceremony will also approve. I think residents in Metro Richmond should study his body of work outside of sports — his fight against apartheid and his work for civil rights and HIV/AIDS research.

Outlook at start of the day: Every day I open my eyes I know it is a good day and am completely positive.

Quality I admire in another person: Confidence, sense of purpose, pride without arrogance.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: In the face of adversity, you press on and don’t give up.

Next goal: Revitalize parts of South Richmond.