Joseph Cameron Alston

Infobox Badminton player
playername = Joseph C. Alston


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birth_name = Joseph Cameron Alston
date_of_birth = birth date|1926|12|20
place_of_birth = San Diego, California
date_of_death = death date|2008|04|16
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country = USA
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handedness = Right
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Joseph Cameron Alston (December 201926 – April 16 2008) was an American badminton player who won major titles between 1951 and 1967 [ [http://www.ocbadmintonclub.com/usnationals2006/2006usn_pw.shtml Orange County Badminton Club] ] .

Career

Despite a career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation which sometimes interfered with his avocation, Alston reached the final round of more U.S. Open events than any other male player in the sport's history. In 1957 Alston won the Men's Doubles at the prestigious All-England Championships with Malaya's Johnny Heah and remains the only American to share this title [ [http://badmintonengland.co.uk Badminton England] ] . Noted for his speed and crisp shot-making, Alston was a member of seven consecutive U.S. Thomas Cup (Men's International) teams between 1952 and 1970 [http://www.usabadminton.org/wof/alston.html USA Badminton Walk of Fame Plaza: JOSEPH C. ALSTON] ] . He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on March 7, 1955. [cite web|url=http://usedmagazines.com/titles/SportsIllustrated/1955/ |title=Sports Illustrated Magazine 1955 |accessdate=2008-04-19] His wife, the former Lois Smedley, was an outstanding badminton competitor in her own right and played on the world champion U.S. Uber Cup (Women's International) team of 1957 [ [http://www.usabadminton.org/wof/Uber_Cup.html USA Badminton Walk of Fame Plaza: THE LADIES' INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY] ] . Both are members of the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame, now called the Walk of Fame. One of their sons, Tony Alston, was a leading U.S. player in the 1980's.

Major Achievements

References