William Porter (athlete)
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1948 London | 110 m hurdles |
William ("Bill") Franklin Porter II (March 24, 1926 – March 10, 2000) was an American track and field athlete, winner of 110-meter hurdles at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
Born in Essex Township, Michigan, William Porter attended The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and graduated class of 44'. Then attending Western Michigan University.
Porter won his only AAU Championship title in 1948 in 110 m hurdles and thus qualified to the Olympic Games. Although the best American hurdler Harrison Dillard did not qualify to the Olympics, the three Americans Porter, Clyde Scott and Craig Dixon were headlong over the rest of the field in the Olympic final. From the start to finish they ran almost neck to neck, with the others some five yards behind. In the finish, Porter gained a clear win with Scott beating Dixon by inches for second place.
After his athletics career, Porter worked for the Northwestern Alumni Association Board and later opened a sales agency in California.
William Porter died in Irvine, California.
References
Sports Reference USATF 110 Hurdle Champions Northwestern University
- 1926 births
- 2000 deaths
- People from Clinton County, Michigan
- American hurdlers
- Male hurdlers
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States
- Olympic track and field athletes of the United States
- Western Michigan University alumni
- Olympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
- American sportsmen
