William C. Battle

William Cullen Battle (October 9, 1920 – May 31, 2008) was a lawyer, businessman, United States Ambassador to Australia, and president of the United States Golf Association.

Life
Battle was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was the son of John S. Battle, former Governor of Virginia (1950–54). He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1941. He played on the varsity golf team there.

Battle served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was awarded the Silver Star. He was in the same squadron in the South Pacific as John F. Kennedy and participated in Kennedy's rescue from the island on which he and his crew were marooned.

After the war, he returned to the University of Virginia and earned a law degree in 1947. He worked in his father's law firm. He later worked on Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and was appointed Ambassador to Australia, serving from 1962 to 1964.

In 1969, Battle made a failed bid for the Virginia Governorship as the Democratic candidate against Republican A. Linwood Holton, Jr.

Battle later became president and CEO of Fieldcrest Mills, a textile manufacturer, where he served as president from 1971 to 1981.

In 1978, Battle was elected to the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association where he served until 1989. He served as USGA President from 1988 to 1989. He had also been President of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association in 1953.

Family
Battle died in Charlottesville, Virginia after suffering a stroke. He was survived by his wife Barry (née Webb) Battle, three children, Cullen Battle, Robert Battle and Janie Battle Richards, and six grandchildren