Fred McNair

Fred McNair Jr. was the son of the rear admiral of the same name and superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Although no noteworthy results of Fred Jr. as an athlete could be discovered, he was entered in middle- and long-distance running events for the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. He did not start, however.

McNair graduated in 1903 from the Naval Academy and pursued a career as naval officer. In 1914, he was commander of the destroyer “Jenkins” and received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the US occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, in April. In the following year, he joined the staff of the Naval Academy and was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1916.

During World War I, he was commanding officer of the destroyer “Winslow” and subsequently the first commander of the newly commissioned destroyer “Woolsey”. For his services he was awarded the Navy Cross. After the war, he supervised the commissioning of the destroyer “Dickerson” and briefly served as her first commanding officer in 1919. He then became commander of the Destroyer Division 9 of the US Atlantic Fleet. McNair retired from active service in 1931 but was recalled during World War II. After retirement he lived in Annapolis, Maryland.

Fred MacNair married Agnes Barton Duer. They had seven daughters and one son. His grandson, Fred McNair, IV, became a professional tennis player who was world ranked #1 in doubles in 1976. He won 16 major professional doubles tournaments, including the 1976 French Open alongside Sherwood Stewart.