Posted on 09/02/2006 8:02:47 PM PDT by lunarbicep
The United States Olympic Committee learned earlier today of the passing of Olympic champion Bob Mathias. He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, competing in the sport of decathlon at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. Mathias passed away today at his home in Fresno, Calif., at the age of 75.
Mathias’ positive impact on the Olympic Movement started at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, England, where at the age of 17 he became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in a track and field event. Mathias’ feat was even more remarkable and legendary considering that it was only his third decathlon competition, having qualified for the Olympic Games by winning two earlier events in the United States. Mathias cemented his Olympic legacy four years later at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. He again took gold in the decathlon, becoming the first athlete to repeat as Olympic champion in the event.
An incredible athlete, Mathias played full-back in Stanford University’s Rose Bowl appearance just a few months before the 1952 Games. He was drafted by the Washington Red Skins, but never signed. Mathias also won the 1948 Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete.
Mathias transitioned from Olympic and collegiate sport to the political arena, serving as a U.S. Congressman from 1967-1974. He served four terms on Capitol Hill, representing the state of California.
Following his political career, Mathias returned to the U.S. Olympic Movement and served as the first director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The site he managed in Colorado Springs is the headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee, and his legacy has helped spawn two additional Olympic Training Centers and numerous Olympic Training sites.
Mathias is a member of the U.S. Olympic and National Track and Field Halls of Fame. He received numerous awards in his lifetime, as a pioneer and inspiration both on and off the fields of play.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Tulare United Methodist Church in Tulare, Calif., with graveside services to follow at Tulare District Cemetery.
He was a sweetheart. God rest his soul.
This is a shock. He was the first hero I had in sports, even before Ted Williams. He was the epitome of the amatuer athelete.
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Godspeed (((Bob))).
You will be missed.
Didn't realize he was that old, but time marches on. I'm old.
I had to look it up because this article didn't say which party he was a part of. He was a Republican rep.
he gave our 9th grade graduation speech at Fremont Jr high Pomona Ca. 1957 . not positive but i believe he graduated from Bonita high school La Verne CA. he was living there at that time. remember him saying that he had so many cases of Wheaties given to him that he fed them to his horses
RIP for a legend.
I admired him tremendously. RIP.
I volunteered at the olympic training center and meet with him on several occasions. He was a true gentleman and loved and admired by everyone who knew him.
RIP, Bob Mathias. A good man, a Stanford hero and an American hero. Here's a gem I just found, from a speech he gave in Forrest City, AR, 3 years ago:
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" ... Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Veterans saluted at annual program
Olympic legend guest speaker
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Olympic legend Bob Mathias this morning encouraged young people to try new things. He also spoke on patriotism, during the annual Veterans Day Program held in Mustang Arena on the Forrest City High School campus.
He told the story about how he was intrigued when his high school track coach suggested he try something new, called the decathlon. He went on to win two gold medals in the event, setting a world record with his second win.
Mathias said standing on the platform and hearing the National Anthem play was something he will never forget.
There were a lot of students in the audience, and Mathias addressed them.
"If your teacher, your coach or your parents come up to you and say, 'we have something new, something we want you to try,' my advice is, give it a try. Because you never know where it might lead you," he said.
On the patriotic side, Mathias, who is also a veteran of the Marine Corps, said he has taken several trips abroad for the state department.
"In traveling to these places, I saw how people live in just about every country in the world," he said. "And all it proved to me was, I was very happy to be born and raised here in America."
He also said the Olympic spirit and politics do not belong together.
"On one of the trips I went to Iraq. On these trips I would meet with the local schools. And in the case of Iraq, I met with the military and I demonstrated various track and field events. And the people I met in Iraq were great people -- the athletes. I think athletes throughout the world have something in common, and that's the spirit of competition. One regret I have is that sometimes countries get involved politically in the Olympic games. I think that's absolutely wrong. I think the games should go on regardless of what the political convictions of Russia or the United States are. It's the only forum I know of where people from around the world can come together and become friends. It's the only place in the world where you can do that. So I hope it goes on and on."
At the same time, he said the war on terrorism must be fought and won.
"We are in a war, a war against terror," he said. "Many of our young men and women will not be coming home. Many will come home, and they'll all become veterans. I think all these people who go are patriotic. It's a terrible war, but I certainly support it. Having terrorists in the world is not right. It's not good.
"I can imagine what could happen five or 10 years from now or 50 years from now if we don't stop it. The world will be in chaos. So I think the United States is doing the right thing in doing everything it can to stop terrorism, as are lot of other countries, too."
Mathias, who is related to several local people, received a standing ovation. ..."
~~~~~
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I went to his camp when I was a kid ('72 or '73) up in the Sierra's above Fresno...think it was near Kings Canyon but not certain. All of the kids there had a blast, and sports was a big part of it. Archery, riflery (don't tell Feinstein), running, swimming, etc. The end of the 4 weeks culminated in an Olympic style competition between -- what else -- the red vs. the blue team. The final even was a relay race. With 100+ kids on each team, it actually ran for miles along the forest road. I'm not sure how much he had to do with the camp aside from letting it use his name (he was in Congress at the time).
Highlight of the camp was watching the movie about his childhood & Olympic exploits and then meeting him.
I grew up with his picture on the Weatties.
Obit Addendum:
Bob Mathias co-starred with Keenan Wynn as civil engineers in a prime time network dramatic adventure show, "The Troubleshooters" I'd guess in the early 60s. Somehow they always got into a construction situation that was resolved with a fistfight. Can't remember if there was gunplay but do recall lots of bulldozers and roadgraders and that was the draw for me.
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