Adapting intelligently and inspiringly to life as a diabetic at a time when a quiet, unstrenuous regimen was prescribed, William Franklin Talbert became a champion. Urbane, immaculately groomed, he represented the game not only as a winning player but a thorough Davis Cup captain and thoughtful administrator as director of the U.S. Open. Thwarted twice in U.S. singles finals, 1944 and 1945, by Frank Parker, the 5-foot-11 right-handed Talbert made his strongest showing in doubles in the right court alongside Gardnar Mulloy.

They were in the U.S. final six times, one short of Fred Alexander and Harold Hackett's team record, winning four, 1942, 1945, 1946 and 1948. The 1946 title was the prikliest and most noteworthy, a 74-game drama with Frank Guernsey and Don McNeill, 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 20-18, the longest windup set for any major final. It seemed ended numerous times, but Talbert and Mulloy kept shunning match points. Five of them came and went against Mulloy's serve,(6-7, 0-40 and 10-11, 15-40). But the sixth at 13-14, 30-40 caused a great furor. Talbert, serving, sent back Guersey's return crosscourt with an angled backhand volley that looked wide to many. Guernsey and McNeill rejoiced, shaking hands. "It didn't look good for us," Talbert remembers. "But there was no call. The sidelinesman was signaling my shot was good. Barely touched the line, I guess." Play resumed. After losing a point, Talbert saved that match point seven with a good serve that Guernsey netted. The next match point, 10 games later, settled it for the comebackers and the closest of all U.S. finals was over. "There'll never be another one like that because of tiebreakers," says Talbert. He was the most instrumental in the acceptance of the elongated-set-dooming innovation at the Open in 1970, the first of his 10 years in charge. The other majors followed his lead.

Bill was in the U.S. doubles final nine times.

He and Mulloy won the clinching point in the Davis Cup victory over Australia in 1948 at Forest Hills, defeating Billy Sidwell and Colin Long. He was on the team six years, winning nine of 10 matches, and captained it to the victory over Australia in 1954, as well as the full seasons of 1955, 1956 and 1957 and portions of 1952 and 1953, compiling a 13-4 record.

A stylish groundstroker and excellent volleyer and tactician, he ranked in the U.S. Top Ten 13 times between 1941 and 1954, No. 2 in 1944 and 1945. He was in the World Top Ten in 1949 and 1950, No. 3 the first year. An Ohioan, born September 4,1918, in Cinncinati, he grew up there, moving to New York during his playing career. He and Margaret Osborne duPont won the U.S. mixed a record four straight years, 1943-46.

With Bruce Old, Talbert wrote definitive books, "The Game of Singles in Tennis" and "The Game of Doubles in Tennis". He also wrote an autobiography, "Playing for Life" and a history of the U.S. men's singles championships, "Tennis Observed". He was involved in the financial printing business for many years, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1967.