Theodore Lightner

Theodore Alexander "Teddy" Lightner (14 September 1893 – c. 22 November 1981)[1][2][3] was an American bridge player. He developed the Lightner double, a bridge bidding convention.[4]

Lightner was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and moved to Chicago and later to New York City. He graduated from Yale University and from Harvard Law School. He was a lawyer and had a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.[5] Apparently, he died from a heart attack days before his body was discovered in his New York apartment on November 22, 1981.[3]

Lightner was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 1999.[6]

According to Victor Mollo:[7]

No man stood so close to the emperor of bridge, Ely Culbertson, as Ted Lightner... For a part of the celebrated Battle of the Century match he was Ely Culbertson's partner - it was the part during which Culbertson gained his entire advantage over Lenz. He was in the Culbertson team which defeated the British in 1930, '33 and '34, and after winning every major event in America - Spingold, Vanderbilt, Life Master Pairs - he was at the top once more as world champion in 1953.

  1. ^ Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ACBLhof was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference truscott was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference truscott1973 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Francis, Henry G.; Truscott, Alan F.; Francis, Dorthy A., eds. (1994). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (5th ed.). Memphis, TN: American Contract Bridge League. p. 680. ISBN 0-943855-48-9. LCCN 96188639.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference HOFby was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Victor Mollo, The Bridge Immortals, Faber and Faber, 1967, pp 145-150.