Five Random Whitney Stories

C. F. Stewart

Tom Brown: out of the doubles as Whitney's partner.

In the last article we looked at Whitney's shaky time in the Air Force and the surrealistic events surrounding his 1959 victory over Donald Dell in the NCAA single final. (Click Here.) This month 5 random stories about Whitney as remembered by his friend Ken Sheffield.

Canadian Nationals

Whitney was in desperate need of a ride to Vancouver, for the Canadian Nationals and his friend Ken Sheffield had just taken a job selling Shick razors on the road.

Ken figured he could sell Shick razors in Canada as well as anywhere, and traveling with Whitney might not be the safest health plan, but was bound to be fun. They stocked up an ample supply of premium beer and head up Highway 101 for Vancouver.

The ride to Canada was somewhat of a blur. Somewhere along the way, Whitney called home to tell everyone that he was in transit to Canada, alive and well. Whitney's mom says great, thanks for calling, and Tom Brown can't play doubles.

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C.F. Stewart writes biographies of interesting off-beat characters who are irreverent, and a bit on the shady side, like Whitney Reed, the touring tennis player who could have been one of the best, but preferred to drink beer and gamble with Wimbledon pub dwellers -- instead of performing on center court for the Duchess of York. The same touring tennis player who boarded a plane for Australia to play in the Australian Championships -- and forgot his racket and tennis shoes. And when all his contemporaries' retired to the TV booth or had knee replacement surgery, he continued to play at a high level well into his 60's.

To order Unflapable, the Life and Times of Whitney Reed, Click Here.

To find out about my other books, Click Here.

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