Looking for former World Record Holder 100m -200: 1960

[Michael Ripley]

Hi,

I'm looking for the of the greats of track & field, Ray Norton.

Formerly of Oakland, CA. He moved to Scottsdale, AZ Feb 05, where he became invovled in the import and export business.
He was last seen in June 06.

He is missing, and a number of his friends and family are scaning the country in hopes of some leads.

As I am one of his best friends, I am asking for your help.

He was the World Record Holder in boths events in '59, placed 4th in the Olympics w a herniated lumbar disc in the 100m. He played football w the San Francsisco 49'ers until a knee injury shortened his career approximately in 1965.

He narrated for ESPN Sports Classic for Muhammed Ali's biography, as they were close freinds. He was very close with Jim Brown and Wilt Chamberlain, as he lived in the LA area for thrity years, before returning to the SF Bay Area to help a sick family member.
Wilma Rudolph gave him one of her Olympic Medals after his placing 4th. Because she felt so badly for him, as he was such a classy person.
And was a heavy favorite preinjury.

Anyone w any information please contact Dr Michael Ripley, at [email protected].

Thank you kindly for your time,
Michael

Last edited by Michael Ripley on Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:39 am; edited 2 times in total

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[wineturtle]

Did anything come of this?

[Mennisco]

Did anything come of this?

Maybe someone helped and that was that?

[paulthefan]

So far I have learned that Ray Norton was injured with a back problem during the 60 olympics and this seems like a reasonable scenario, otherwise his subpar performance is hard to understand. Very sad, he should have gotten a few medals in 60 and certainly gold in the 4X1.

[Mennisco]

So far I have learned that Ray Norton was injured with a back problem during the 60 olympics and this seems like a reasonable scenario, otherwise his subpar performance is hard to understand. Very sad, he should have gotten a few medals in 60 and certainly gold in the 4X1.

Your name is Michael, Paul? I knew a guy with that name once. :wink:

[gh]

So far I have learned that Ray Norton was injured with a back problem during the 60 olympics and this seems like a reasonable scenario, otherwise his subpar performance is hard to understand. Very sad, he should have gotten a few medals in 60 and certainly gold in the 4X1.

Color me at least slightly skeptical. There's nothing in the T&FN coverage of Rome which indicates a bad back and after the two individual races they still ran him on the relay when finding a world-class substitute wouldnt' have been a problem.

And he played 3 games in the NFL that fall (in a year when he wouldn't have been back from the OG until mid-September).

[paulthefan]

while I had some reservations about the story I bought it because it rang true..... when someone says they are Norton's close friend and that he had a herniated disc during the '60 olympics, because it is an explanation that makes perfectly plausible his lackluster performance it kind of sounds credible... I realize the competition was stiff but Norton a mega talent if ever there was one, finishing dead last in the 100 final just cries out for an explanation... am I really that crazy for falling for it?

[TrackCEO]

According to this article dated March 2, 2007, Ray Norton is coaching a 37-year-old guy named Chris Horton in Northern California:

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/artic ... 562360.txt

The article sez:

Horton also trains with an Olympic Development group coached by Olympic gold medallist Ray Norton.

Strange piece. ("Gold medalist"?) This Horton guy thinks he'll be ready for the Olympic Trials 400 and 800 after running half-marathons with a 50-pound jacket.

In any case, if I were a family member or friend of Norton's, I'd go to local authorities and file a missing persons report -- and contact local media -- before resorting to a T&FN message board post. I see no evidence on the Web that Norton is a missing person.

K E N

[Bauchwalzer]

Killing time before the '60 Pre Olympic meet in Eugene, Lee Calhoun, not knowing Norton was afraid of snakes, snuck up behind Norton and suprised him with a snake. Norton, startled, jumped up in the air and on landing injured his back. An injury, he related in '84, that hurt him up until that day. Hope that clears up any speculation about Norton's back. He also related that with his back and the loss of weight after entering Rome, he was amazed that he made the finals in the 100 and 200. As Bud Winter was one of the Oly coaches, there was never a question about Norton's place on the 4X100 at Rome but Paul Winder, who photo-finished for third (given fourth) at the FOT was in Rome and indeed practiced with the team but was not named.

[rhymans]

Winder lost out on 100 selection only because Sime's form kept improving all the way to Rome, with a US record equalling 10.1 in Walnut on August 12 - the last meet before departing to Rome. As for Norton - it was clear that his back was not a great problem in Rome - it was more the 8-9 lb weight loss which affected him. Having said that, his running in the relay (once he had the baton in his hand) was exceptional

[paulthefan]

yes his relay running was exceptional it was his baton transfer that was suspect.

regarding his weight loss, looking at Norton in 60 he does look emaciated especially next to Sime, but then again Morrow looked even worse in 56 and managed to pull it off.

[rhymans]

Morrow was ill one month earlier - his weight may have been a bit down, but he was over his illness by the time of the Games, but Norton was only a couple of days past Nero's revenge.

[Bauchwalzer]

Winder lost out on 100 selection only because Sime's form kept improving all the way to Rome, with a US record equalling 10.1 in Walnut on August 12 - the last meet before departing to Rome. As for Norton - it was clear that his back was not a great problem in Rome - it was more the 8-9 lb weight loss which affected him. Having said that, his running in the relay (once he had the baton in his hand) was exceptional

Doesn't explain what Stone Johnson - who was not even a FOT 100 meter finalist - was doing on the relay squad, in place of Winder, who not only was photographed practicing with the relay team in Rome but also ran very well in post-OG meets. To me, the Grand Absentees from the Rome 100 final were Harry Jerome (inj in semi) and Charlie Tidwell (inj at FOT). Also, the myth that the Germans were using Hary in the second position (rather than leadoff to take eadvantage of his tremendous start or last as is the custom for the fastest man on the team) as some sort of strategic move was bogus. Sorry Garry Hill! Hary points out in his autobiography that it was because he had injured himself in the 100 that he was put in the second slot as it wouldn't strain the leg. That's why he scratched from the 200 (not to save himself for the 4X100).

[paulthefan]

one thing interesting from the Rome 4x1 is that Sime really doesnt have a bust-out performance or even an on-par performance in the 4x1. He gains maybe a yard on the field. Certainly would have expected more from a 6'2+" 100m (lane1) silver medalist. Reminds one a bit of a certain british final leg from 1988.

[gh]

.... Also, the myth that the Germans were using Hary in the second position (rather than leadoff to take eadvantage of his tremendous start or last as is the custom for the fastest man on the team) as some sort of strategic move was bogus. Sorry Garry Hill! Hary points out in his autobiography that it was because he had injured himself in the 100 that he was put in the second slot as it wouldn't strain the leg. That's why he scratched from the 200 (not to save himself for the 4X100).

And they ran Hary on the second leg in winning the European Championships in '58 because......?

They did it because they wanted their fastest guy to have the opportunity to run longer (take baton early, hand off late).