RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

[cecil9sm]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

Does a video of his 1948 world record at Fresno exist? First 9.3 ever.

[user4]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

Really one of the All-Time greats in the sprints!
3 time NCAA champ in the 100y.

that last one was surprising .. judging by the pics he was very very slender for a 100yd dashman. 6'1" 15Xlbs, well that is Calvin Smith-esque weight with near Carl Lewis height.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/sport ... mpics.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympic ... ton-1.html

[kuha]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

His candor/outspokenness about under-the-table money--in the late 1940s!--is very interesting.

[mrbowie]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

My first real hero in the sport. Beautiful runner, great human being.

[user4]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

Truly a man of great moral integrity and class. As exceptional a human being as he was a sprinter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Patton family.

[Jacksf]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

Really one of the All-Time greats in the sprints!
3 time NCAA champ in the 100y. Broke Jesse Owen's WRs in the 100 and 220.
Surprisingly lost the 100 at the London Olympics, but otherwise an amazing career!

[paw]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

if anybody are interested in having a collection of mine on PDF (pages 73) on the career of Mel Patton just send a private message.

The collection contains some statistics and all I could find of text and pictures from T&FN from 1948, ATFS, several newspapers and a oral history.

[Dixon]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

I have a picture of him in an old WEST COAST RELAYS (Fresno) program running the first 9.3. One of the greats! RIP

[DoubleRBar]

Re: RIP: Hall of Famer Mel Patton, 89

Very sorry to hear about his death. I never met him, but certainly read a lot about him.

[gh]

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