William Stevenson (athlete)
Encyclopedia
William Edwards Stevenson (October 25, 1900 - April 2, 1985) was an American
track and field athlete, lawyer
and diplomat
, who won the gold medal in 4x400 m relay
at the 1924 Summer Olympics
and later served as president of Oberlin College
.
At the Paris
Olympics
, Stevenson ran the last leg in the American 4x400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 3.16.0. His teammates were Commodore Cochran
, Alan Helffrich
and Oliver MacDonald
.
championships in 440 yd (402.3 m) in 1921.
He was a graduate of Andover and Princeton before winning a Rhodes Scholarship
to Oxford
, where he studied law. After returning to United States, he was an assistant U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York in the 1920s and, in 1931, founded the prominent New York law partnership of Debevoise, Stevenson, Plimpton and Page, now Debevoise & Plimpton L.L.P.
In 1937, Stevenson bought Buttonwood Manor in the North Stamford
section of Stamford, Connecticut
, an 1809 Colonial-style house. When Stevenson and his wife went to England during World War II, they rented the house to Dorothy Fields
, a renowned lyricist, according to the columnist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle
.
During the World War II
, Stevenson and his wife, Eleanor "Bumpie" Bumstead Stevenson, a 1923 graduate of Smith College
, organized and administered American Red Cross operations in Great Britain
, North Africa, Sicily
, and Italy
. Both he and his wife were awarded the Bronze Star
for meritorious achievement in support of military operations.
In 1946, Stevenson succeeded Ernest Hatch Wilkins as a president of Oberlin College
. He held this post until John F. Kennedy
appointed him as an ambassador to Philippines
in 1962, where he served until 1965. He then became the head of the Aspen Institute
of Humanistic Studies in Colorado.
Eleanor Stevenson was the author of I Knew Your Soldier in 1946. She was active in the civil rights movement and the first person to give a nationally broadcast speech on behalf of Planned Parenthood.
He was the father of U.S. Representative
Helen Stevenson Meyner
, who served for two terms, from 1975 to 1979. She was the wife of two-term New Jersey Gov. Robert Meyner. His other daughter, Priscilla, married Richard Hunt, a Harvard professor and the university's marshal.
He was also a cousin of the Vice-President
Adlai E. Stevenson, presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, Senator Adlai Stevenson III
, and actor McLean Stevenson
, and the father-in-law of New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner
.
Stevenson died in Fort Myers, Florida
, aged 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field athlete, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and diplomat
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, who won the gold medal in 4x400 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
and later served as president of Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
.
At the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Stevenson ran the last leg in the American 4x400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 3.16.0. His teammates were Commodore Cochran
Commodore Cochran
Commodore Shelton Cochran was an American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was born in Mississippi and died in San Francisco, California....
, Alan Helffrich
Alan Helffrich
Alan Boone Helffrich was an American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics....
and Oliver MacDonald
Oliver MacDonald
Joseph Oliver MacDonald was an American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics....
.
Life
Born in Chicago, Illinois, William Stevenson won the AAUAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships in 440 yd (402.3 m) in 1921.
He was a graduate of Andover and Princeton before winning a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he studied law. After returning to United States, he was an assistant U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York in the 1920s and, in 1931, founded the prominent New York law partnership of Debevoise, Stevenson, Plimpton and Page, now Debevoise & Plimpton L.L.P.
Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a prominent international law firm based in New York City. Founded in 1931 by Eli Whitney Debevoise and William Stevenson, Debevoise has been a long established leader in corporate litigation and large financial transactions. In recent years, its practice has taken on an...
In 1937, Stevenson bought Buttonwood Manor in the North Stamford
North Stamford
North Stamford is section of Stamford, Connecticut north of the Merritt Parkway. Often hilly and woodsy, it is less densely developed than the rest of the city....
section of Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, an 1809 Colonial-style house. When Stevenson and his wife went to England during World War II, they rented the house to Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
, a renowned lyricist, according to the columnist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle
Ernie Pyle
Ernest Taylor Pyle was an American journalist who wrote as a roving correspondent for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain from 1935 until his death in combat during World War II. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944...
.
During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Stevenson and his wife, Eleanor "Bumpie" Bumstead Stevenson, a 1923 graduate of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, organized and administered American Red Cross operations in Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, North Africa, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Both he and his wife were awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for meritorious achievement in support of military operations.
In 1946, Stevenson succeeded Ernest Hatch Wilkins as a president of Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
. He held this post until John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
appointed him as an ambassador to Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1962, where he served until 1965. He then became the head of the Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
of Humanistic Studies in Colorado.
Eleanor Stevenson was the author of I Knew Your Soldier in 1946. She was active in the civil rights movement and the first person to give a nationally broadcast speech on behalf of Planned Parenthood.
He was the father of U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Helen Stevenson Meyner
Helen Stevenson Meyner
Helen Day Stevenson Meyner, also known as Helen S. Meyner was a Democratic U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1975 to 1979.-Biography:...
, who served for two terms, from 1975 to 1979. She was the wife of two-term New Jersey Gov. Robert Meyner. His other daughter, Priscilla, married Richard Hunt, a Harvard professor and the university's marshal.
He was also a cousin of the Vice-President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Adlai E. Stevenson, presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, Senator Adlai Stevenson III
Adlai Stevenson III
Adlai Ewing Stevenson III is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He represented the state of Illinois in the United States Senate from 1970 until 1981.-Education, military service, and early career:...
, and actor McLean Stevenson
McLean Stevenson
Edgar McLean Stevenson, Jr. , better known as McLean Stevenson, was an American actor most recognized for his role as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the TV series M*A*S*H...
, and the father-in-law of New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
.
Stevenson died in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
, aged 84.