William Dudley (swimmer)

William Dudley
Dudley in his youth
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Henry Dudley III
National team United States
Born(1931-01-15)January 15, 1931
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1978(1978-01-18) (aged 47)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
SpouseEleanor Marie Villere
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubNew Orleans Athletic Club (NOAC)
College teamTulane Swim Club
Not official Varsity Team
CoachBert Raacke (NOAC)

William Henry Dudley III (January 15, 1931 – January 18, 1978) was an American competition swimmer who competed for Castle Heights Military Academy, and represented the United States in the 4x200 freestyle relay as a 17-year-old at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London .

Born in New Orleans on January 15, 1931, he competed for the New Orleans Athletic Club under Coach Bert Raacke, who said of him at 17, "He has great swimming potentialities, more than anyone in the South now". While at Castle Heights Military Academy, Dudley captured mid-South records of 22.5 in the 50-yard freestyle, 56.1 in the 100-yard freestyle, and shared a record for the freestyle and medley relays. Dudley graduated from Lebanon, Tennessee's Castle Heights Military Academy, and captained their Swim team in 1947.