Researching William Dudley

Dudley is the son of William Stuart Dudley and his wife Dorothy Irene (née Stacey). He was educated at Saint Martin's School of Art and the Slade School of Art. He is a member of the Society of British Theatre Designers. He is married to the theatre director Lucy Bailey.

National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C1173/27) with Dudley in 2007–2008 for its An Oral History of Theatre Design collection held by the British Library.

William Dudley graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee and then attended Tulane University, graduating in 1953 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He competed for Tulane at the club level, as they had no varsity swimming, and the New Orleans Athletic Club.

In 1965 Dudley founded Dudley Engineering Co., a manufacturer's representative for HVAC equipment, which was the business he operated until his death at a young age. He was a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers; the Manufacturers Agents National Association; and the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.

Early in Dudley's career, he and John Holland developed a method for refining iridium that paved the way for commercial applications of the metal. Dudley also discovered that carbon monoxide was a major injurious component of tobacco smoke; and was one of the first to publish the physiological effects of X-rays with fellow Vanderbilt professor John Daniel.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the first Southern athletics conference and forerunner of the Southern and Southeastern Conferences. Dudley was a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) executive and football rules committees. Known as the "father of Vanderbilt football" and the "father of Southern football," he was the namesake of Dudley Field (the first dedicated Southern college football stadium).