Allison, Wilmer L.
Tennis
b. Dec. 8, 1904, San Antonio, TX
d. April 20, 1977
Allison didn't begin playing tennis seriously until he was 20 years old, but less than three years later he won the intercollegiate singles championship, representing the University of Texas.
During the late 1920s and early 1930, Allison and John Van Ryn formed probably the best doubles team in the world, winning Wimbledon in 1929 and 1930, the U. S. Nationals in 1931 and 1935, and teaming for a 14-2 record in Davis Cup play.
But Allison's chief goal, the national singles title, eluded him for a long time. He reached the finals six times in seven years, losing to Fritz Mercur in 1929, Frank Shields in 1930, Berkeley Bell in 1931, Henri Cochet in 1932, and Fred Perry in 1934, when the final match went five sets, Perry winning 8-6 in the fifth.
In 1935, Allison finally broke through, beating Perry in the semi-finals and Sidney Wood in the championship. He then cut back on serious competition. Allison also reached the Wimbledon finals in 1930, losing to Bill Tilden. He had a 17-10 record in Davis Cup singles.
From 1956 through 1972, Allison served as unpaid tennis coach at the University of Texas. The school won four Southwestern Conference championships during his tenure.