Robert Williams

Robert Williams was recognized as having the hardest smash of his era. He was the youngest member of the first American Thomas Cup team in 1949, was a member of the 1952, 1955 and 1961 Thomas Cup teams, and inducted into USA Badminton's Hall of Fame in 1977.  He entered three events in most tournaments and had success at the national level in all three events.  Bob was respected by young players and coached many. Perhaps Gary McFarland, former resident of Niagara Falls and Junior Champion said it best,  "I would never have been the US Junior Singles Champion had it not been for Bob's love of badminton and the help he gave me as a young player.  He was my mentor."

Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Robert started playing at the Niagara Falls Country Club at the age of eleven.  By the age of thirteen he was competing in regional events in the US and Canada. His national and international career continued for the next thirty-five years. Throughout his career he played in most all the eastern and Canadian tournaments. In 1951, he was a finalist in men's doubles at the Scottish International Invitational Tournament. He also won numerous eastern mixed doubles tournaments with his partner from Western New York, Ethel Marshall.

Bob was invited to play in two All-England tournaments. On one occasion when Bob revisited the stadium entered as a spectator at the 1979 All-England Championships, an admiring fan yelled, "Bobby Williams is back". Bobby, as his friends called him, was a favorite at the All-England Championships.

Throughout his playing career he was ranked as high as 4th in men's singles and 2nd in men's doubles. In  1948, ‘49, ‘50, and ‘51 he reached the finals in the US National Men's Doubles Championships. Throughout his career his many and long competitive battles were against some of the sports greatest legends and Hall of Fame Inductees: Dave Freeman, Wynn Rogers, Joe Alston, and Jim Poole.  Bob is one of a few men to ever take a game from Dave Freeman, famed US champion. In 1953, at the US Nationals in Boston he took the first game off Dave Freeman 15-12. However, during the second game leading 8-1, his glasses broke. Since he did not have a second pair of glasses, his fate was sealed. However, Freeman was dangerously close to losing the match but prevailed 12-15, 15-9, 15-5. In 1955, Bob was selected to play on the US Thomas Cup Team held in Singapore. Prior to the match while waiting in his hotel room with Wynn Rogers, Bobby's glasses were shattered. Once again as fate would have it, his glasses would let him down. " His glasses shattered from the intense heat and humidity. No one hit him," says Wynn Rogers. An eye was injured and resulted in the application of drops which helped to determine if the iris had been cut. The injury caused blurry vision making it difficult for him to focus during the first night of play.  The US team subsequently lost to Thailand.

In 1969 Bobby retired and moved to Florida and never played again. He later played some racket ball and lots of golf for fun and recreation.