William C. Battle
Encyclopedia
William Cullen Battle was a lawyer, businessman, United States Ambassador to Australia
, and president of the United States Golf Association
.
Battle was born in Charlottesville, Virginia
. He was the son of John S. Battle
, former Governor
of Virginia
(1950-54). He graduated from the University of Virginia
in 1941. He played on the varsity golf
team there.
Battle served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
and was awarded the Silver Star
. He was in the same squadron in the South Pacific as John F. Kennedy
and participated in Kennedy's rescue from the island on which he and his crew were marooned.
After the war, he returned to the University of Virginia and earned a law degree in 1947. He worked in his father's law firm. He later worked on Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and was appointed Ambassador to Australia, serving from 1962 to 1964.
In 1969, Battle made a failed bid for the Virginia Governorship as the Democratic candidate against Republican A. Linwood Holton, Jr.
Battle later became president and CEO of Fieldcrest Mills, a textile
manufacturer, where he served as president from 1971 to 1981.
In 1978, Battle was elected to the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association
where he served until 1989. He served as USGA President from 1988 to 1989. He had also been President of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association in 1953.
Battle died in Charlottesville, Virginia after suffering a stroke. He was survived by his wife Barry (née Webb) Battle, three children, Cullen Battle, Robert Battle and Janie Battle Richards, and six grandchildren
United States Ambassador to Australia
The position of United States Ambassador to Australia has existed since 1940. U.S.-Australian relations have been close throughout the history of Australia...
, and president of the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
.
Battle was born in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. He was the son of John S. Battle
John S. Battle
John Stewart Battle was an American politician and the 56th Governor of Virginia from 1950 to 1954.Battle was born in 1890 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. He earned an associate's degree from Mars Hill College , in North Carolina...
, former Governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(1950-54). He graduated from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1941. He played on the varsity golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team there.
Battle served in the U.S. Navy during 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...
and was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. He was in the same squadron in the South Pacific as 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....
and participated in Kennedy's rescue from the island on which he and his crew were marooned.
After the war, he returned to the University of Virginia and earned a law degree in 1947. He worked in his father's law firm. He later worked on Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and was appointed Ambassador to Australia, serving from 1962 to 1964.
In 1969, Battle made a failed bid for the Virginia Governorship as the Democratic candidate against Republican A. Linwood Holton, Jr.
Battle later became president and CEO of Fieldcrest Mills, a textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
manufacturer, where he served as president from 1971 to 1981.
In 1978, Battle was elected to the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
where he served until 1989. He served as USGA President from 1988 to 1989. He had also been President of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association in 1953.
Battle died in Charlottesville, Virginia after suffering a stroke. He was survived by his wife Barry (née Webb) Battle, three children, Cullen Battle, Robert Battle and Janie Battle Richards, and six grandchildren