Dock of the Bay

[Double R Bar]

Happy 78th birthday today (Monday) to a man who won two gold medals in one Olympic Games. This man didn't start track and field until he was already 26 years old. Born in the first state in alphabetical order, this man graduated from a university founded in 1872.

The first person under a certain "barrier" (hand timed), our birthday athlete helped carry the 1996 Olympic torch and was the first Olympic gold medalist from his school. If I said "USAF", it might give you a big clue. Who is this Olympic champion born 78 years ago today in Alabama?

[catson52]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Happy 78th birthday today (Monday) to a man who won two gold medals in one Olympic Games. This man didn't start track and field until he was already 26 years old. Born in the first state in alphabetical order, this man graduated from a university founded in 1872.

The first person under a certain "barrier" (hand timed), our birthday athlete helped carry the 1996 Olympic torch and was the first Olympic gold medalist from his school. If I said "USAF", it might give you a big clue. Who is this Olympic champion born 78 years ago today in Alabama?

Otis Davis? Don't know whether he helped to carry the torch in 1996 or the USAF bit.

[Double R Bar]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Yes, catson52, it is Otis Davis (not Otis Redding). Otis Davis turns 78 years old today. Of course you know he won the 1960 Rome 400 meters and anchored the winning four by 400 relay in 45.25 to a new world record of 3:02.2. Davis was the first to run under 45 seconds (hand timed). He did carry the Olympic torch at the 1996 Games and he was also a member of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Happy birthday Otis Davis.

[dukehjsteve]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Too late to get any credit, but I had fun with this one... figuring it out BEFORE I read it, purely from the " Dock of the Bay" title... not a whole lot of Track guys named Otis out there !!!

[Double R Bar]

Re: Dock of the Bay

I always loved the name "Otis Davis". Both names ending in "is", to me, it sounds like it should be an Olympic champion's name.

[dukehjsteve]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Lots of studly names by elite 1/4 milers: to name a few,

Otis
Ulis
Alonzo
Quincy
Ollan

[kuha]

Re: Dock of the Bay

I always loved the name "Otis Davis". Both names ending in "is", to me, it sounds like it should be an Olympic champion's name.

And Miles Davis is just about the coolest name ever...

I believe I remember an old article in T&FN about the most "successful" surnames in track history. Davis ranked well up there...

[lonewolf]

Re: Dock of the Bay

I remember seeing a tabulation many years ago that, surprisingly to me, Davis was the most common name in MLB.

[Per Andersen]

Re: Dock of the Bay

And Miles Davis is just about the coolest name ever...

Oh, yes, Miles Ahead

[Bruce Kritzler]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Lots of studly names by elite 1/4 milers: to name a few,
Otis
Ulis
Alonzo
Quincy
Ollan

Otis Hill, White Plains HS & Southern U.

[dukehjsteve]

Re: Dock of the Bay

Lots of studly names by elite 1/4 milers: to name a few,
Otis
Ulis
Alonzo
Quincy
Ollan

Otis Hill, White Plains HS & Southern U.

And Hill was the biggest star on that White Plains team as opposed to a hurdler that also dabbled in the 440. His was a plainer name, " Larry."

[wineturtle]

Re: Dock of the Bay

4x220y 1:25.4 WHITE PLAINS; CHSAA Coaches' Relays, St. John's University, Jamaica, Queens, NY 7Jun66 (Dave Jackson 21.8 - Larry James 21.5 - Carl Reed 21.3 - Otis Hill 20.8)

4x440y 3:12.7 WHITE PLAINS Relay Meet, St. John's University, Jamaica, Queens, NY 14Jun66 (Carl Reed 49.8 - Dave Jackson 48.0 - Larry James 47.4 - Otis Hill 47.5)


Agree DhjS Hill was the guy I figured would be the Olympian. Reed and Jackson would have been BMOC anywhere else in the tristate area.



Julio Meade( Jackson HS) vrs Otis on the flat @ 168St over 300y never enough officials to call fouls so it was always pure Roller Derby- and not only the 31.x guys a couple 3 years earlier I ran a 300 and got the singlet ripped off my back and not flag to be seen.

I can not think of a east coast HS team ever holding those relay records again. BTW Jackson/Boys ran 7:35.6 NHSR 4x880 In the CHSAA Coaches meet same day WPHS took the 4x220 R.