Bob Mathias was born, the second of four children to Dr. Charles and Lillian Mathias. One of the greatest all-around athletes in track and field history, Robert "Bob" Mathias arrived on the world track and field scene in spectacular fashion, winning the decathlon gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games while still only 17 years old. He almost failed in the high jump but was able to recover. He was survived by wife Gwen, daughters Romel, Megan, Marissa, step daughter Alyse Alexander, son Reiner, brothers Eugene and Jim, and sister Patricia Guerrero.[6]. Touchdown Run 1. He attended Tulare Union High School, where he was a classmate and long time friend of Sim Iness, the 1952 Olympic discus gold medalist. Year. [1] In 1948, Mathias won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete, but because his scholastic record in high school did not match his athletic achievement, he spent a year at The Kiski School,[3] a well-respected all-boys boarding school in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. Enrolls at Kiskiminetas Prep School, Saltsburg, Pa. Honored with the James E. Sullivan Award, presented each year to America's top amateur athlete. The Bob Mathias Story (1954) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. With her first child a son, Lillian Mathias had her hopes set on a baby girl for her second child; it is said that she cried … Bob Mathias entered Stanford in 1949, having already won Olympic gold in the decathlon in the ’48 Olympic Games in London when he was a 17-year-old student at Tulare High. Tulare high school stadium renamed in Mathias's honor. After his competitive days, he was a member of the U.S. Congress from 1967 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1983 he was director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Continued work for the state department as a good will ambassador to the world. On New Year's Day, he played fullback for Stanford University in the Rose Bowl. [9] In 1960, he also appeared playing an athletic Theseus in an Italian "peplum," or sword-and-sandal, film: Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete.[10]. Drafted by the, Married his first wife Melba. Mathias was born in Tulare, California. Appointed director of U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. (1st), Educationhigh school: Tulare (Tulare, California)undergraduate: Stanford (Palo Alto, California), 1953, McCormick has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, gone down the Amazon, learned how to fly, Olympic Champ Pat McCormick Still Up To Her Old Tricks. He died on September 2, 2006 in Fresno, California. Mathias and his wife starred in the movie. He attended Stanford University (B.A., 1953), where he played fullback on the gridiron football team. [4] He was unaware of the rules in the shot put and nearly fouled out of the event. Mathias won four U.S. decathlon championships (1948–50, 1952). He later became the first director of the United States Olympic Training Center, a post he held from 1977 to 1983. Stanford Cardinal football; Member of political party: Republican Party; Position held: United States representative (1967–1975) ... Media in category "Bob Mathias" The following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Mathias continued to fare well in decathlons in the four years between the London games and the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. After graduating from Stanford in 1953 with a BA in Education, Mathias spent two and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned a master’s degree from Stanford University in physical education in ’51. Won National Decathlon Championship at a meet held in Tulare. At age seventeen, graduated from Tulare high school after an illustrious high school athletic career in football and track and field.Wins National Decathlon Championship at Bloomfield, N.J. This was not too surprising because this area started to move away from its New Deal Democratic roots. 96 Bill Rogers vs. Oregon State • 1952 2. Political career: From 1967-75, he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the … In the. This page was last edited on 5 January 2021, at 22:07. 1948. Visited more than forty countries as America's Good Will Ambassador. Mathias was born in Tulare, California. 22 pages, all players are pictured. Bob Mathias, a two-time Olympic decathlon champion and Stanford football standout who became a four-term Republican congressman from the Central Valley, died … [7] He returned to the United States as a national hero. Enrolled at Stanford University, where he starred in track and field and in gridiron football. This Month in Sports Reference Mathias set his first decathlon world record in 1950[2] and led Stanford to a Rose Bowl appearance in 1952, the first nationally televised college football game. 90 Dave ©2020 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Appointed executive director of the National Fitness Foundation. They later had three daughters, Romel, Megan, and Marissa. After graduating from Stanford in 1953 with a BA in Education, Mathias spent two and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Site Last Updated: Tuesday, January 19, 7:08AM Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? En 1953 graduóse en Stanford, y esi mesmu añu foi reclutado pol equipu Washington Redskins, anque nunca llegó a xugar na National Football League. His point total of 7731 was 599 more than that of second-place finisher Milt Campbell of the U.S. (who won the event four years later). Upon his return to the small farming community of Tulare, California, Mathias was a full-fledged hero. In addition to his Olympic gold, he led the Stanford University football team to a Rose Bowl appearance. Mathias also was involved in the unsuccessful 1976 presidential re-election campaign of Gerald Ford. Mathias played football during junior and senior years at Stanford. He played in the Rose Bowl, a losing effort to an outstanding Illinois team, and then won his fourth national decathlon championship five months later. For the first American officer killed by German fire on D-Day, see. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team and went on to win gold medal in decathlon at the Summer Olympic Games in London, England. Graduated from Stanford and commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Marine Corps. Bob Mathias, Class: 1954 Induction: Sport(s): Men's Track and Field - ... Roster Fencing: News Football Football: Facebook Football: Twitter Football: Instagram Football: Schedule Football: ... Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. Robert Bruce Mathias (November 17, 1930 – September 2, 2006) was an American decathlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist in the event, a United States Marine Corps officer, actor and United States Congressman representing the state of California. Bob Mathias 1952.jpg 1,000 × 814; 219 KB. One day the 17-year-old Californian is a regional prep star. Robert Bruce "Bob" Mathias (November 17, 1930 – September 2, 2006) was an American decathlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist, a United States Marine Corps officer, actor and United States Congressman representing the state of California. November 17, 1930. Mathias overcame his difficulties and with superior pole vault and javelin scores was able to push past Ignace Heinrich to win the Olympic gold medal. Spent the summer at U.S. Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, California. Mathias was re-elected three times without serious difficulty, but in 1974, his district was significantly redrawn in a mid-decade redistricting. Bob Mathias was born on November 19, 1930, in Tulare, California, the second of four children born to Dr. Charles Milfred and Lillian (Harris) Mathias. Returned to the Central Valley, in rural Fresno County. In the 1959–1960 television season, Mathias played Frank Dugan, with costars Keenan Wynn as Kodiak and Chet Allen as Slats, in the TV series The Troubleshooters, which focused 26 episodes on events at construction sites. He then entered Stanford University in 1949, played college football for two years and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Mathias set his first decathlon world record in 1950 and led Stanford to a Rose Bowl appearance in 1952, the first nationally televised college football game. Featuring two time Olympic Champion Bob Mathias at fullback for the Stanford. He was promoted to the rank of captain and was honorably discharged.[6]. He was married to Gwen Alexander and Melba Wiser. He attended Tulare Union High School,[3] where he was a classmate and long time friend of Sim Iness, the 1952 Olympic discus gold medalist. The 1952 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University in the 1952 college football season.The team was led by head coach Chuck Taylor in his second year and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.. After winning the conference and making it to the Rose Bowl in the previous season, the team was ranked #13 in preseason polls. 94 Casey Moore vs. California 1999 3. Starred in the movie "China Doll", the TV series The Troubleshooters, the movie "Theseus and the Minotaur" and in the movie It Happened in Athens. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images [8] In 1952, he was the first person to compete in an Olympics and a Rose Bowl the same year. Early life and athletic career Mathias was born in Tulare, California. After the 1952 Olympics, Mathias retired from athletic competition. He was an actor, known for The Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete (1960), The Bob Mathias Story (1954) and China Doll (1958). Chuck Taylor, who went 40-29-2 in seven seasons, was the coach. He defeated Harlan Hagen, the 14-year Democratic Party incumbent, by about 11% in the 1966 election. He was elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983. Bob Mathias, deceased 2006, long time football player at Stanford and decathlon Olympic gold medal winner in 1948 and 1952. He is interred at Tulare Cemetery in Tulare, California. Mathias was narrowly defeated for re-election by John Hans Krebs, a member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Entered active duty in the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. Mathias led Stanford University to the 1952 Rose Bowl in football. Robert Bruce "Bob" Mathias (1930-2006) won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon in 1948 (at age 17) and 1952. Born on November 17, he helped promote it as `` the breakfast of ''. 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