William Arthur Carr (October 24, 1909 – January 14, 1966) was an American athlete and double Olympic champion in 1932. Called the "Arkansas flyer," Carr never lost a race during his college and Olympic career.
Early life and education
Carr was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. His parents were Ann Holmes and William L. Carr, a traveling salesman with the Mann-Tankersley Drug Co. He received his elementary school education at Lakeside School in Pine Bluff.
He attended Pine Bluff High School in 1925. In his freshman year, he joined the track team because he was too small for basketball or football. While he was at Mercersburg, they won the annual inter-scholastic track meet to become state champions. Carr was the Pennsylvania champion in the 100-meter sprint, the 200-meter sprint, and the long jump, setting a state record for the latter.
Carr was recruited by the University of Pennsylvania and started there in 1929. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1933 with a B.S. in economics. In college, he never lost the 400-meter sprint.
He was the 1931 Amateur Athletic Union Indoor national champion in the 300-yards event.
Back at college in 1933, Carr had a "lackluster" performance in the spring season.
In 1934, Carr started working for the Insurance Company of North America.