William P. Lawrence
William Porter Lawrence (January 13, 1930 – December 2, 2005), United States Navy, was a decorated naval aviator who served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1978 to 1981. Lawrence retired at the rank of Vice Admiral.
Lawrence was a noted pilot who became the first naval aviator to fly twice the speed of sound in a naval aircraft and was also one of the final candidates for the Mercury space program. During the Vietnam War, Lawrence was shot down while on a combat mission and spent six years as a prisoner of war, from 1967 to 1973. During this time he became noted for his resistance to his captors. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Lawrence served as the school's Superintendent from 1978 to 1981.
Read more about William P. Lawrence: Early Life and Education, Awards and Decorations, See Also
Famous quotes containing the word lawrence:
“Views of women, on one side, as inwardly directed toward home and family and notions of men, on the other, as outwardly striving toward fame and fortune have resounded throughout literature and in the texts of history, biology, and psychology until they seem uncontestable. Such dichotomous views defy the complexities of individuals and stifle the potential for people to reveal different dimensions of themselves in various settings.”
—Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (20th century)