Career
He retired in 1945, and pursued a career as a stockbroker. Purcell also designed an athletic shoe that bears his name, which is still popular today. Born in Guelph, Ontario, Purcell excelled at tennis and golf as a child.
He took up badminton in 1924, and rose quickly in Ontario"s amateur ranks.
Purcell became the leading badminton player in Canada, which led him to write a badminton column for the Toronto Star. In 1931, Purcell traveled to England, having beaten all his competitors in Canada.
After his trip to England, Purcell returned to Canada only to learn that he was stripped of his amateur status. The Canadian Badminton Association claimed that his Toronto Star articles made him a paid professional.
As a professional badminton player, however, Purcell beat all the leading players in the world by 1932.
His world championship status was challenged numerous times, but Purcell remained unbeaten until his retirement in 1945. In 1950, the Canadian Press named Purcell as Canada’s Outstanding Athlete of the 20th Century in the miscellaneous sports category. He was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1973 despite having never played in the Olympic Games.
At the time of his induction badminton was still not an Olympic sport.
In 1955, he was inducted into Canada"s Sports Hall of Fame. He died in Toronto in 1991 at age 87.
Purcell designed a canvas and rubber badminton sneaker for the Benjamin Franklin Goodrich Company of Canada in 1935. He designed the shoe to provide more protection and support on badminton courts.
In the 1970s, Converse purchased the trademark rights to Jack Purcell sneakers - which it still produces and sells today.
The shoes, nicknamed "Smilies," owing to the signature smile across the toe, are otherwise similar in appearance to Converse"s Chuck Taylor All-Star. Converse "Jack Purcells" are still popular - but more for their vintage fashion appeal than for athletic use.