- R. Norris Williams
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R. Norris Williams Full name Richard Norris Williams III Country United States
Born January 29, 1891
GenevaDied June 2, 1968 (aged 77) Plays Right Handed Int. Tennis HOF 1957 (member page) Singles Highest ranking 4 Grand Slam results US Open W (1914, 1916) Doubles Grand Slam Doubles results Wimbledon W (1920) US Open W (1925 1926) Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results US Open W (1912) Other Mixed Doubles tournaments Olympic Games Gold Medal (1924)
Olympic medal record Men's Tennis Gold 1924 Paris Mixed doubles Richard "Dick" Norris Williams II (January 29, 1891 – June 2, 1968), generally known as R. Norris Williams, was an American male tennis player.
Contents
Biography
He was born in Geneva, Switzerland.
Williams is best known for his two victories at the U.S. Championships in 1914 and 1916. He was also on the victorious American Davis Cup team twice: in 1925 and 1926 and was considered a fine doubles player. He also had a reputation in singles of always hitting as hard as possible and always trying to hit winners near the lines. This made him an extremely erratic player, but when his game was sporadically "on", he was considered unbeatable.
Williams also gained fame as being a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster in April 1912. He and his father, Charles Duane Williams, were traveling first class on the liner when it struck an iceberg and sank. Shortly after the collision, Williams freed a trapped passenger from a cabin by breaking down a door. He was reprimanded by a steward, who threatened to fine him for destroying White Star Line property, an event that inspired a scene in James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic. Williams remained on the doomed liner almost until the very end. At one point Williams' father tried to get a steward to fill his flask. The flask was given to Norris Williams and remains in the Williams family.
After being washed overboard by a wave that also took off Colonel Archibald Gracie and Second Officer C. H. Lightoller, along with several others, the 21 year old Williams made his way to the Collapsible A Lifeboat holding on to its side for quite a while before getting in. When Williams entered the water he was wearing a fur coat which he quickly discarded along with his shoes. Those in Collapsible A who survived were transferred to Lifeboat 14 by Fifth Officer Lowe. Although abandoned by the Carpathia, Collapsible A was recovered a month later. Amazingly, on board the lifeboat was the discarded fur coat which was returned to Williams by White Star.
Even after entering the lifeboat he spent several hours waist in freezing water. RMS Carpathia arrived on the scene to rescue survivors. His father was lost in the disaster. The ordeal left his legs so severely injured that the Carpathia's doctor wanted to amputate them. Williams, who did not want his tennis career to be cut short, opted instead to work through the injury. The choice worked out well for him: later that year, he won his first U.S. Tennis Championship, in mixed doubles, and went on to win many more championships. He also won the Davis Cup with fellow survivor Karl Behr.
Williams served in the United States Army during World War I and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. After the war he continued playing championship tennis.
During the fabled 1924 Olympics, at the age of 33 (and with a sprained ankle), Richard Norris Williams became a Gold Medalist in the mixed doubles. He went on to captain several winning Davis Cup teams from 1921 through 1926 as well as the 1934 team. At 44 he retired from Championship Tennis.
Williams, a noted Philadelphia investment banker, was President of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame ((Newport, Rhode Island)) in 1957.
It was not until after the publication of A Night to Remember, a 1955 book about the Titanic disaster, that Williams became acquainted with its author Walter Lord. In 1962, Williams met with Lord and gave a detailed account of the sinking. Although it has been reported that his father, among others, was crushed by the falling forward smokestack, and that he barely escaped that fate, Williams does not mention that in his talk with Lord.
Grand Slam record
Wimbledon Championships
- Doubles champion: 1920 (w/Chuck Garland)
U.S. Championships
- Singles champion: 1914, 1916
- Singles finalist: 1913
- Doubles champion: 1925, 1926
- Doubles finalist 1921, 1923, 1927
- Mixed champion: 1912
References
- ^ Wallechinsky, David (2004). The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics, Toronto: Sport Classic Books. ISBN 1-894963-34-2
- ^ Colonel Archibald Gracie - The Truth About The Titanic (1913), New York, Mitchell Kennerley
- ^ Letter from R. Norris Williams to Colonel Gracie
- ^ Walter Lord - The Night Lives On (1986), William Morrow & Company, ISBN 0688049397
Pre Open Era Wimbledon gentlemen's doubles champions 1885: William Renshaw / Ernest Renshaw · 1886: William Renshaw / Ernest Renshaw · 1887: Herbert Wilberforce / Patrick Bowes-Lyon · 1888: William Renshaw / Ernest Renshaw · 1889: William Renshaw / Ernest Renshaw · 1890: Joshua Pim / Frank Stoker · 1891) Wilfred Baddeley / Herbert Baddeley · 1892: E.W. Lewis / H.S. Barlow · 1893: Joshua Pim / Frank Stoker · 1894: Wilfred Baddeley / Herbert Baddeley · 1895: Wilfred Baddeley / Herbert Baddeley · 1896: Wilfred Baddeley / Herbert Baddeley · 1897: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1898: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1899: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1900: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1901: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1902: Sydney Smith / Frank Riseley · 1903: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1904: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1905: Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty · 1906: Sydney Smith / Frank Riseley · 1907: Norman Brookes / Tony Wilding · 1908: Tony Wilding / Josiah Ritchie · 1909: Arthur Gore / Herbert Barrett · 1910: Tony Wilding / Josiah Ritchie · 1911: André Gobert / Max Decugis · 1912: Herbert Barrett / Charles Dixon · 1913: Herbert Barrett / Charles Dixon · 1914: Norman Brookes / Tony Wilding · 1915–18: No competition (due to World War I) · 1919: R.V. Thomas / Pat O'Hara Wood · 1920: R. Norris Williams / Chuck Garland · 1921: Randolph Lycett / Max Woosnam · 1922: James Anderson / Randolph Lycett · 1923: Leslie Godfree / Randolph Lycett · 1924: Francis Hunter / Vincent Richards · 1925: Jean Borotra / René Lacoste · 1926: Jacques Brugnon / Henri Cochet · 1927: Francis Hunter / Bill Tilden · 1928: Jacques Brugnon / Henri Cochet · 1929: Wilmer Allison / John Van Ryn · 1930: Wilmer Allison / John Van Ryn · 1931: George Lott / John Van Ryn · 1932: Jean Borotra / Jacques Brugnon · 1933: Jean Borotra / Jacques Brugnon · 1934: George Lott / Lester Stoefen · 1935: Jack Crawford / Adrian Quist · 1936: Pat Hughes / Raymond Tuckey · 1937: Don Budge / Gene Mako · 1938: Don Budge / Gene Mako · 1939: Elwood Cooke / Bobby Riggs · 1940–45: No competition (due to World War II) · 1946: Tom Brown / Jack Kramer · 1947: Bob Falkenburg / Jack Kramer · 1948: John Bromwich / Frank Sedgman · 1949: Pancho Gonzales / Frank Parker · 1950: John Bromwich / Adrian Quist · 1951: Ken McGregor / Frank Sedgman · 1952: Ken McGregor / Frank Sedgman · 1953: Lew Hoad / Ken Rosewall · 1954: Rex Hartwig / Mervyn Rose · 1955: Rex Hartwig / Lew Hoad · 1956: Lew Hoad / Ken Rosewall · 1957: Budge Patty / Gardnar Mulloy · 1958: Sven Davidson / Ulf Schmidt · 1959: Roy Emerson / Neale Fraser · 1960: Rafael Osuna / Dennis Ralston · 1961: Roy Emerson / Neale Fraser · 1962: Bob Hewitt / Fred Stolle · 1963: Rafael Osuna / Antonio Palafox · 1964: Bob Hewitt / Fred Stolle · 1965: John Newcombe / Tony Roche · 1966: Ken Fletcher / John Newcombe · 1967: Bob Hewitt / Frew McMillan ·
U.S. National Championships men's doubles champions (1881) Clarence Clark / Frederick Winslow Taylor • (1882) Richard Sears / James Dwight • (1883) Richard Sears / James Dwight • (1884) Richard Sears / James Dwight • (1885) Richard Sears / Joseph Clark • (1886) Richard Sears / James Dwight • (1887) Richard Sears / James Dwight • (1888) Oliver Campbell / Valentine G. Hall • (1889) Henry Slocum / Howard Taylor • (1890) Valentine G. Hall / Clarence Hobart • (1891) Oliver Campbell / Bob Huntington • (1892) Oliver Campbell / Bob Huntington • (1893) Clarence Hobart / Frederick Hovey • (1894) Clarence Hobart / Frederick Hovey • (1895) Malcolm Chace / Robert Wrenn • (1896) Carr Neel / Sam Neel • (1897) Leo Ware / George Sheldon • (1898) Leo Ware / George Sheldon • (1899) Holcombe Ward / Dwight F. Davis • (1900) Holcombe Ward / Dwight F. Davis • (1901) Holcombe Ward / Dwight F. Davis • (1902) Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty • (1903) Reginald Doherty / Laurence Doherty • (1904) Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright • (1905) Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright • (1906) Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright • (1907) Fred Alexander / Harold Hackett • (1908) Fred Alexander / Harold Hackett • (1909) Fred Alexander / Harold Hackett • (1910) Fred Alexander / Harold Hackett • (1911) Raymond Little / Gus Touchard • (1912) Maurice McLoughlin / Tom Bundy • (1913) Maurice McLoughlin / Tom Bundy • (1914) Maurice McLoughlin / Tom Bundy • (1915) Clarence Griffin / Bill Johnston • (1916) Clarence Griffin / Bill Johnston • (1917) Fred Alexander / Harold Throckmorton • (1918) Vincent Richards / Bill Tilden • (1919) Norman Brookes / Gerald Patterson • (1920) Clarence Griffin / Bill Johnston • (1921) Vincent Richards / Bill Tilden • (1922) Vincent Richards / Bill Tilden • (1923) Brian Norton / Bill Tilden • (1924) Howard Kinsey / Robert Kinsey • (1925) Vincent Richards / R. Norris Williams • (1926) Vincent Richards / R. Norris Williams • (1927) Francis Hunter / Bill Tilden • (1928) George Lott / John F. Hennessey • (1929) George Lott / Johnny Doeg • (1930) George Lott / Johnny Doeg • (1931) Wilmer Allison / John Van Ryn • (1932) Ellsworth Vines / Keith Gledhill • (1933) George Lott / Lester Stoefen • (1934) George Lott / Lester Stoefen • (1935) Wilmer Allison / John Van Ryn • (1936) Don Budge / Gene Mako • (1937) Gottfried von Cramm / Henner Henkel • (1938) Don Budge / Gene Mako • (1939) John Bromwich / Adrian Quist • (1940) Jack Kramer / Ted Schroeder • (1941) Jack Kramer / Ted Schroeder • (1942) Gardnar Mulloy / Bill Talbert • (1943) Jack Kramer / Frank Parker • (1944) Bob Falkenburg / Don McNeill • (1945) Gardnar Mulloy / Bill Talbert • (1946) Gardnar Mulloy / Bill Talbert • (1947) Jack Kramer / Ted Schroeder • (1948) Gardnar Mulloy / Bill Talbert • (1949) John Bromwich / Bill Sidwell • (1950) John Bromwich / Frank Sedgman • (1951) Ken McGregor / Frank Sedgman • (1952) Mervyn Rose / Vic Seixas • (1953) Rex Hartwig / Mervyn Rose • (1954) Vic Seixas / Tony Trabert • (1955) Kosei Kamo / Atsushi Miyagi • (1956) Lew Hoad / Ken Rosewall • (1957) Ashley Cooper / Neale Fraser • (1958) Alex Olmedo / Ham Richardson • (1959) Roy Emerson / Neale Fraser • (1960) Roy Emerson / Neale Fraser • (1961) Chuck McKinley / Dennis Ralston • (1962) Rafael Osuna / Antonio Palafox • (1963) Chuck McKinley / Dennis Ralston • (1964) Chuck McKinley / Dennis Ralston • (1965) Roy Emerson / Fred Stolle • (1966) Roy Emerson / Fred Stolle • (1967) John Newcombe / Tony Roche
U.S. National Championships mixed doubles champions (1888) M. Wright / J. S. Clark • (1889) M. Wright / J. S. Clark • (1890) Mabel Cahill / R. Beach • (1891) Mabel Cahill / M. R. Wright • (1892) Mabel Cahill / Clarence Hobart • (1893) Ellen Roosevelt / Clarence Hobart • (1894) Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fisher • (1895) Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fisher • (1896) Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fisher • (1897) Laura Henson / D.L. Magruder • (1898) Carrie Neely/ Edwin Fisher • (1899) Elizabeth Rastall / Albert Hoskins • (1900) Margaret Hunnewell / Alfred Codman • (1901) Marion Jones / Ray Little • (1902) Elisabeth Moore / Wylie Grant • (1903) Helen Chapman / Harry Allen • (1904) Elisabeth Moore / Wylie Grant • (1905) Augusta Schultz Hobart / Clarence Hobart • (1906) Sarah Coffin / Edward Dewhurst • (1907) May Sayers / Wallace Johnson • (1908) Edith Rotch / Nathaniel Niles • (1909) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace Johnson • (1910) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Joseph Carpenter, Jr. • (1911) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace Johnson • (1912) Mary Browne / Dick Williams • (1913) Mary Browne / Bill Tilden • (1914) Mary Browne / Bill Tilden • (1915) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Harry Johnson • (1916) Eleonora Sears / Willis Davis • (1917) Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Irving Wright • (1918) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Irving Wright • (1919) Marion Jessup / Vincent Richards • (1920) Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace Johnson • (1921) Mary Browne / Bill Johnston • (1922) Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Bill Tilden • (1923) Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Bill Tilden • (1924) Helen Wills Moody / Vincent Richards • (1925) Kathleen McKane Godfree / John Hawkes • (1926) Elizabeth Ryan / Jean Borotra • (1927) Eileen Bennett Whittingstall / Henri Cochet • (1928) Helen Wills Moody / John Hawkes • (1929) Betty Nuthall Shoemaker / George Lott • (1930) Edith Cross / Wilmer Allison • (1931) Betty Nuthall Shoemaker / George Lott • (1932) Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Fred Perry • (1933) Elizabeth Ryan / Ellsworth Vines • (1934) Helen Jacobs / George Lott • (1935) Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Enrique Maier • (1936) Alice Marble / Gene Mako • (1937) Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Don Budge • (1938) Alice Marble / Don Budge • (1939) Alice Marble / Harry Hopman • (1940) Alice Marble / Bobby Riggs • (1941) Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Jack Kramer • (1942) Louise Brough Clapp / Ted Schroeder • (1943) Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert • (1944) Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert • (1945) Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert • (1946) Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert • (1947) Louise Brough Clapp / John Bromwich • (1948) Louise Brough Clapp / Tom Brown • (1949) Louise Brough Clapp / Eric Sturgess • (1950) Margaret Osborne duPont / Ken McGregor • (1951) Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman • (1952) Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman • (1953) Doris Hart / Vic Seixas • (1954) Doris Hart / Vic Seixas • (1955) Doris Hart / Vic Seixas • (1956) Margaret Osborne duPont / Ken Rosewall • (1957) Althea Gibson / Kurt Nielsen • (1958) Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser • (1959) Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser • (1960) Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser • (1961) Margaret Court / Bob Mark • (1962) Margaret Court / Fred Stolle • (1963) Margaret Court / Ken Fletcher • (1964) Margaret Court / John Newcombe • (1965) Margaret Court / Fred Stolle • (1966) Donna Floyd Fales / Owen Davidson • (1967) Billie Jean King / Owen Davidson
Tennis at the Summer Olympics • Olympic Champions in mixed doubles 1900:Charlotte Cooper & Reginald Doherty • 1912:
Dorothea Köring & Heinrich Schomburgk;
Edith Hannam & Charles Dixon (indoor) • 1920:
Suzanne Lenglen & Max Décugis • 1924:
Hazel Wightman & Richard Williams
Categories:- 1891 births
- 1968 deaths
- American expatriates in Switzerland
- American male tennis players
- American military personnel of World War I
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States
- Olympic tennis players of the United States
- People from Geneva
- People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees
- Tennis people from Pennsylvania
- Tennis players at the 1924 Summer Olympics
- RMS Titanic's crew and passengers
- United States National champions (tennis)
- Wimbledon champions (pre-Open Era)
- Olympic medalists in tennis
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