Joseph Alston

Right-handed player

Born in San Diego, CA

Records:

1951 & 1955 US Men's Singles Champion

1951,52,53,55,61,62,64, & 67 US Men's Doubles Champion

1953 & 1954 US Mixed Doubles Champion

1957 All England Men's Doubles Champion

1951 World Invitational Championships, Scotland

         Men's Singles Champion

1951-52, 54-55, 57-58, & 60-61, 63-64, & 69-70 Thomas Cup Team

1959 Ken Davidson Award

1956 USA BADMINTON "HALL OF FAME" INDUCTEE

Joe began playing badminton at the early age of nine on the neighbor's front lawn in San Diego, California. He attended college at San Diego State. Throughout his high school and college years, he played extensively in the San Diego area. In 1953, Joe moved to the Pasadena area and joined the famous Pasadena Badminton Club, where he continued to train and win national titles.

For 29 years, Joe was a special agent for the FBI. In 1996, he was appointed coordinator of kidnap/extortion matters, where he successfully directed some of the bureau's most sensitive and complex cases. He was in charge of numerous Los Angeles special security details, including those of the U.S. Attorney General and his family, and the Director of the FBI. He also contributed to the success of many other major investigations such as skyjacking, political assassinations and foreign criminal matters. The Director of FBI commended him for his work in the Patricia Hearst investigation, which led to the arrests in San Francisco.

Joe is retired and lives with his wife Lois in Solana Beach, California. They have two sons, Nicholas and Tony. These days you can find Joe on the golf course or spoiling his three grandchildren, Amy, and the twin-boys Jack and Grant. Joe is the holder of 12 national titles and the only U.S. badminton player to ever be featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated."