Joseph Cameron Alston

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Joseph C. Alston
Personal information
Birth name	Joseph Cameron Alston
Date of birth	December 20, 1926(1926-12-20)
Place of birth	San Diego, California
Date of death	April 16, 2008

Country	United States
Handedness	Right

Joseph Cameron Alston (December 20, 1926 – April 16, 2008) was an American badminton player who won major titles between 1951 and 1967^[1].

[edit] 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^[2]. Noted for his speed and crisp shot-making, Alston was a member of all U.S. Thomas Cup (Men's International) teams between 1952 and 1970^[3]. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on March 7, 1955.^[4] 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^[5]. Both are members of the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame, now called the Walk of Fame^[3]. One of their sons, Tony Alston, was a leading U.S. player in the 1980's.

[edit] Major Achievements

Tournament	Event and year
US Open	Men's Singles (1955), Men's Doubles (1955, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967), Mixed Doubles (1954)
US Championships	Men's Singles (1951), Men's Doubles (1951, 1952, 1953) Mixed Doubles (1953)
All-Englands	Men's Doubles (1957)
World Invitational	Men's Singles (1956)