Dawee Chullasapya

Dawee Chullasapya graduated from the Military Academy of Thailand but later trained in the United States and Great Britain. He served with distinction in the Royal Thai Air Force in World War II, leading the 60th Fighter Squadron. He eventually became Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces as Air Chief Marshall, and combined his military career with a political one. From 1968-80 he served the government in various posts, including Vice-Minister of Defense from 1963-69, Minister of Communication and Transport from 1969-71, Minister of Agriculture from 1971-72, Minister of Defense from 1973-74, and he was Deputy Prime Minister twice, from 1974-76 and 1979-80.

In sports, Chullasapya led the Organizing Committee for the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games, and was President of both the Thailand Olympic Committee and the Asian Games Federation. Chullasapya competed in both sailing and golf, winning a silver medal in sailing at the 1970 Asian Games and a gold medal at the 1967 SEAP Games. In golf he won the King’s Cup in 1961. Chullasapya became an IOC Member in October 1974 and served until his resignation in 1989 after which he was named an Honorary Member.