Olympic Champ as Prep!!
Bob Mathias (Tulare HS)
1948/1952 Gold Medalist passes on

September 2nd, 2006
At Fresno

 

Olympic Champ as Prep!!
Bob Mathias (Tulare HS)
1948/52 Gold Medalist passes on

September 2nd, 2006
At Fresno

Bob Mathias, 2-time Olympic gold medalist and
former congressman, dies at 75
The Associated Press

Published: September 2, 2006

FRESNO, California Bob Mathias, a two-time Olympic champion in the decathlon and former U.S. congressman, died on Saturday. He was 75.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement that Mathias died in his home. A cause of death wasn't released.

Link to Original article in Fresno Bee

Mathias stricken in cancer fight
By Andy Boogaard / The Fresno Bee

(Updated Saturday, September 2, 2006, 4:59 AM)

Bob Mathias, who stepped off a Tulare farm to win consecutive Olympic decathlon gold medals soon after World War II, is near death in Fresno, friends say.

"It's imminent," former Fresno State track and field coach Red Estes said.

Mathias, in his third bout with cancer — the first of which was diagnosed 10 years ago — has been under hospice care in his east Fresno home for a few weeks, Estes said.

Mathias, 75, became the youngest man to win an Olympic medal in track and field when he won the decathlon in London in 1948 at 17 years old. He then repeated the title at the '52 Games in Helsinki, Finland.

A few months later, he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to help Stanford defeat USC for a berth in the Rose Bowl.

Mathias also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1967-74.

The stadium at Tulare High is named in his honor.

"Of all the people I've met in 60 years of track and field experience as an athlete and coach, I hold him in highest, highest regard," Estes said. "I don't know how you can be above a gold medalist, but he was just a cut above — a good, solid American world champion.

"He served his country in track, his country in the Marines and his country in Congress. And he was just a friend to everyone he knew. He was genuine and loyal. He was the real deal.

"I hope another is made like him one day, but I don't think so."

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6336.

1948 State Meet Summary from Don Kirk

HIGHLIGHTS

Unfortunately, the Meet was conducted during a drizzling rainstorm which produced
slow times on the track but did not dampen the spirit of competition or the
enthusiasm of the spectators. Some 5,500 sat through the rain to watch the
athletes perform. The lone double winner was Bob Mathias of Tulare who won the
high hurdles in 14.5 over James Jackson (Jordan, LA), the Lows in 19.6 over Bud
Bryant (El Monte), and also placed fourth in the shot put. If the discus had been
an official event, Mathias undoubtedly would have won a third gold medal since he
had previously set the California prep record. Mathias, of course, went on to
greater fame by winning the Olympic Decathlon in 1948 and 1952.