American sprinter
For other people with similar names, see Robert Morrow (disambiguation) .
Bobby Morrow
Morrow with wife Jo Ann in 1956
Born (1935-10-15 ) October 15, 1935Harlingen, Texas , U.S.[1] Died May 30, 2020(2020-05-30) (aged 84)San Benito , Texas, U.S Resting place Restlawn Memorial ParkLa Feria, Texas Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2] Weight 75 kg (165 lb) Sport Athletics Event(s) 100–400 m Club ACU Wildcats, Abilene[2] Personal best(s) 100 m – 10.2 (1956) 200 m – 20.75 (1956) 400 m – 47.7 (1959)[2] [3]
Bobby Joe Morrow (October 15, 1935 – May 30, 2020) was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He has been called "the dominant sprinter of the 1950s" and "the most relaxed sprinter of all time, even more so than his hero Jesse Owens ".[4]
Early life [ ]
Morrow was born in Harlingen , Texas ,[2] on October 15, 1935,[5] and raised on a cotton and carrot farm on the outskirts of San Benito , Texas.[6] [7] Before becoming a sprinter , Morrow played football for San Benito High School .[6] Morrow also was a sprinter at Abilene Christian University ,[6] and became a member of the men's club Frater Sodalis in 1955.[8]
Career [ ]
Morrow won the 1955 AAU 100-yard title. His most successful season was in 1956, when he was chosen by Sports Illustrated as "Sportsman of the Year ".[6] Morrow won the sprint double in the national college championships and defended his AAU title. Morrow then went to the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne , where he won three gold medals and was the leader of the American sprint team. First, he was victorious in the 100-meter dash . He then led an American sweep of the medals in the 200-meter dash , while equaling the world record at that distance with a time of 20.6 seconds (unofficially auto-timed at 20.75). He won his third gold by anchoring the 4 × 100-meter relay team to a world record time.[2] [3] [9] He was the first sprinter since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win gold medals in those three events.[10]
Morrow achieved great fame after winning his three gold medals, and was featured on the covers of Life and SPORT , as well as Sports Illustrated . He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends , and addressed a joint session of the Texas legislature .[11]
Morrow's success on a national level continued after the Olympics, but he retired in 1958 to become a farmer and a woodworker. He made a short comeback before the 1960 Olympic Games , but failed to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.[8]
Legacy [ ]
In October 2006, San Benito High School named its new 11,000 seat sporting facility, used for football and soccer, Bobby Morrow Stadium.[12] Morrow was on hand to help dedicate the new facility. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989[1] and into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016.[13]
Personal life [ ]
Morrow in a college chemistry lab. in 1956
Morrow was married to Jo Ann Strickland, whom he met in high school,[7] in what was described as a "fairy-tale marriage".[8] They moved to Odessa , and later to Houston , where he restarted his career in banking that he had put on hold to train for the 1960 Olympics. They divorced around 1968.[8] He subsequently moved to Ohio , where he met and married Judy.[8]
Morrow died of natural causes on May 30, 2020, at his home in Harlingen, Texas, at the age of 84.[6] [14]
References [ ]
^ Jump up to: a b Bobby Morrow . USATF Hall of Fame
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Bobby Morrow . sports-reference.com
^ Jump up to: a b Bobby Morrow . trackfield.brinkster.net
^ Sears, Edward Seldon (2001). Running Through the Ages . Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company . pp. 236–238. ISBN 9780786409716 .
^ Puente, Nathaniel (May 30, 2020). "Bobby J. Morrow, Olympic medal winner, San Benito native, passes away at 84" . ValleyCentral News . KVEO-TV. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Bobby Joe Morrow, 3-time winner in 1956 Olympics, dies at 84" . Associated Press. May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
^ Jump up to: a b "Bioperse: Bobby Morrow" . Sports Illustrated (1 ed.). July 2, 1956. p. 59. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Martin, William (August 1984). "The Fastest Nice Christian Boy in the World" . Texas Monthly . Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
^ Morrow—and a day of medal memories, The Age , (Wednesday, 12 February 1975), p.1.
^ "Bobby Joe Morrow" . Encyclopedia Britannica . Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. October 11, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
^ Martin, William (August 1984). "The Fastest Nice Christian Boy in the World: Then Bobby Morrow Lost His Speed and He Began to Have Certain Doubts" . Texas Monthly . Austin, Texas . pp. 114–201.
^ Bobby Morrow Stadium – San Benito, Texas . Texasbob.com (April 14, 2013). Retrieved on 2017-08-21.
^ Inductees – Name, Category, Year Archived January 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine . TX TF Hall of Fame.
^ Former ACU track star, Olympic gold medal winner Bobby Joe Morrow dies
show Olympic champions in men's 100 metres
show Olympic champions in men's 200 metres
show
1912 Jacobs , Macintosh , d'Arcy , Applegarth (GBR )
1920 Paddock , Scholz , Murchison , Kirksey (USA )
1924 Murchison , Clarke , Hussey , LeConey (USA )
1928 Wykoff , Quinn , Borah , Russell (USA )
1932 Kiesel , Toppino , Dyer , Wykoff (USA )
1936 Owens , Metcalfe , Draper , Wykoff (USA )
1948 Ewell , Wright , Dillard , Patton (USA )
1952 Smith , Dillard , Remigino , Stanfield (USA )
1956 Murchison , King , Baker , Morrow (USA )
1960 Cullmann , Hary , Mahlendorf , Lauer (EUA )
1964 Drayton , Ashworth , Stebbins , Hayes (USA )
1968 Greene , Pender , Smith , Hines (USA )
1972 Black , Taylor , Tinker , Hart (USA )
1976 Glance , Jones , Hampton , Riddick (USA )
1980 Muravyov , Sidorov , Aksinin , Prokofyev (URS )
1984 Graddy , Brown , Smith , Lewis (USA )
1988 Bryzhin , Krylov , Muravyov , Savin (URS )
1992 Marsh , Burrell , Mitchell , Lewis , Jett (USA )
1996 Esmie , Gilbert , Surin , Bailey , Chambers (CAN )
2000 Drummond , Williams , Lewis , Greene , Montgomery , Brokenburr (USA )
2004 Gardener , Campbell , Devonish , Lewis-Francis (GBR )
2008 Bledman , Burns , Callender , Thompson , Armstrong (TTO )
2012 Carter , Frater , Blake , Bolt , Bailey-Cole (JAM )
2016 Powell , Blake , Ashmeade , Bolt , Minzie , Bailey-Cole (JAM )
2020 Patta , Jacobs , Desalu , Tortu (ITA )
show Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
1954: Roger Bannister
1955: Johnny Podres
1956: Bobby Morrow
1957: Stan Musial
1958: Rafer Johnson
1959: Ingemar Johansson
1960: Arnold Palmer
1961: Jerry Lucas
1962: Terry Baker
1963: Pete Rozelle
1964: Ken Venturi
1965: Sandy Koufax
1966: Jim Ryun
1967: Carl Yastrzemski
1968: Bill Russell
1969: Tom Seaver
1970: Bobby Orr
1971: Lee Trevino
1972: Billie Jean King & John Wooden
1973: Jackie Stewart
1974: Muhammad Ali
1975: Pete Rose
1976: Chris Evert
1977: Steve Cauthen
1978: Jack Nicklaus
1979: Terry Bradshaw & Willie Stargell
1980: U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
1981: Sugar Ray Leonard
1982: Wayne Gretzky
1983: Mary Decker
1984: Edwin Moses & Mary Lou Retton
1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1986: Joe Paterno
1987: Bob Bourne , Judi Brown King , Kipchoge Keino , Dale Murphy , Chip Rives , Patty Sheehan , Rory Sparrow , & Reggie Williams
1988: Orel Hershiser
1989: Greg LeMond
1990: Joe Montana
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Arthur Ashe
1993: Don Shula
1994: Bonnie Blair & Johann Olav Koss
1995: Cal Ripken Jr.
1996: Tiger Woods
1997: Dean Smith
1998: Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa
1999: U.S. Women's Soccer Team
2000: Tiger Woods
2001: Curt Schilling & Randy Johnson
2002: Lance Armstrong
2003: David Robinson & Tim Duncan
2004: Boston Red Sox
2005: Tom Brady
2006: Dwyane Wade
2007: Brett Favre
2008: Michael Phelps
2009: Derek Jeter
2010: Drew Brees
2011: Mike Krzyzewski & Pat Summitt
2012: LeBron James
2013: Peyton Manning
2014: Madison Bumgarner
2015: Serena Williams
2016: LeBron James
2017: José Altuve & J. J. Watt
2018: Golden State Warriors
2019: Megan Rapinoe
2020: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif , LeBron James , Patrick Mahomes , Naomi Osaka , & Breanna Stewart
show
1930: Jones
1931: Berlinger
1932: Bausch
1933: Cunningham
1934: Bonthron
1935: Little
1936: Morris
1937: Budge
1938: Lash
1939: Burk
1940: Rice
1941: MacMitchell
1942: Warmerdam
1943: Dodds
1944: Curtis
1945: Blanchard
1946: Tucker
1947: Kelly Jr.
1948: Mathias
1949: Button
1950: Wilt
1951: Richards
1952: Ashenfelter
1953: Sa. Lee
1954: Whitfield
1955: Dillard
1956: McCormick
1957: Morrow
1958: Davis
1959: O'Brien
1960: R. Johnson
1961: Rudolph
1962: Beatty
1963: Pennel
1964: Schollander
1965: Bradley
1966: Ryun
1967: Matson
1968: Meyer
1969: Toomey
1970: Kinsella
1971: Spitz
1972: Shorter
1973: Walton
1974: Wohlhuter
1975: Shaw
1976: Jenner
1977: Naber
1978: Caulkins
1979: Thomas
1980: Heiden
1981: Lewis
1982: Decker
1983: Moses
1984: Louganis
1985: Benoit
1986: Joyner-Kersee
1987: Abbott
1988: Griffith Joyner
1989: Evans
1990: Smith
1991: Powell
1992: Blair
1993: Ward
1994: Jansen
1995: Baumgartner
1996: M. Johnson
1997: Manning
1998: Holdsclaw
1999: C. Miller & K. Miller
2000: Gardner
2001: Kwan
2002: Hughes
2003: Phelps
2004: Hamm
2005: Redick
2006: Long
2007: Tebow
2008: S. Johnson
2009: Palmeiro-Winters
2010: Lysacek
2011: Rodriguez
2012: Franklin
2013: Urschel
2014: Elliott
2015: Stewart & Reynolds
2016: Carlini
2017: Snyder
2018: Plummer
2019: Ionescu & Sp. Lee
show US National Championship winners in men's 100-meter dash
1876–1878New York Athletic Club 1879–1888NAAAA
1879:
1880-81: Lon Myers
1882-83:
1884-86ro :
1887:
1888Note 1 :
1888–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress 1993–presentUSA Track & Field
1993: Andre Cason
1994: Dennis Mitchell
1995: Michael Marsh
1996OT : Dennis Mitchell
1997: Maurice Greene
1998: Tim Harden
1999: Dennis Mitchell
2000OT : Maurice Greene
2001: Bernard Williams
2002: Maurice Greene
2003: Bernard Williams
2004OT : Maurice Greene
2005: Justin Gatlin
2006-08OT : Tyson Gay
2009: Mike Rodgers
2010-11: Walter Dix
2012OT -13: Justin Gatlin
2014: Mike Rodgers
2015: Tyson Gay
2016OT : Justin Gatlin
2017: Justin Gatlin
2018: Noah Lyles
2019: Christian Coleman
20212020 OT : Trayvon Bromell
Notes
Note 1 : In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships
OT : The 1920, 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
2020 OT : The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Distance :Until 1927 the event was over 100 yards, and again from 1929-31
ro :In 1886 the event was won after a run-off
show US National Championship winners in men's 200-meter dash
1876–1878New York Athletic Club
1876: Not held
1877:
1878:
1879–1888NAAAA
1879–81: Lon Myers
1882–83:
1884: Lon Myers
1885–86:
1887–88Note 1 :
1888–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress 1993–onwardsUSA Track & Field
1993: Michael Marsh
1994: Ron Clark
1995–96OT : Michael Johnson
1997: Jon Drummond
1998: Gentry Bradley
1999: Maurice Greene
2000OT : John Capel
2001: Shawn Crawford
2002–03: Darvis Patton
2004OT : Shawn Crawford
2005: Justin Gatlin
2006: Wallace Spearmon
2007: Tyson Gay
2008OT : Walter Dix
2009: Shawn Crawford
2010: Wallace Spearmon
2011: Walter Dix
2012OT : Wallace Spearmon
2013: Isiah Young
2014: Curtis Mitchell
2015–16OT : Justin Gatlin
2017–18: Ameer Webb
2019: Noah Lyles
20212020 OT : Noah Lyles
Notes
Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships
OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
*USA: Leading American athlete
show 1956 USA Olympic track and field team
Men's track and road athletes Men's field athletes Women's track athletes Women's field athletes Coaches
Jim Kelly (men's head coach)
(men's assistant coach)
(men's assistant coach)
Jess Mortensen (men's assistant coach)
Nell Jackson (women's head coach)
Boo Morcom (women's field event coach)
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