Died: Art Barnard, 89; on May 1, in California. USC All-America won the ’52 Olympic bronze in the 110 hurdles. World Ranked 3 times with a high of No. 5 in ’52.
Died: Jaroslav Brabec. 68; on May 20, in Prague. Czech putter finished 10th in the ’72 Olympics. Twice World Ranked with a high of No. 4 in ’73.
Died: John Lawlor, 84; on May 20, in Milton, Massachusetts. Irish hammer thrower placed 4th in the ’60 Olympics. Previously he had won NCAA titles in ’59 and ’60 for Boston U. Twice World Ranked, with a high of No. 8 in ’60.
Died: Dick Quax, 70; on May 28, in Auckland; of cancer. The 2-time Kiwi Olympian won silver medal in the ’76 5000. Set World Record of 13:12.9 the following year. Also ran on a 4 x Mile WR in ’72. Was a World Ranker in 3 events: twice in the 1500 (high of No. 5 in ’73); thrice in the 5K—all No. 2s (’73, ’76 & ’77); once in the 10,000 (No. 5 in ’76).
Died: Bengt Nilsson, 84; on May 11, in Stockholm. The Swedish high jumper won the ’54 Euro title and World Ranked 4 times, topped by No. 2s in ’54 & ’55.
Died: László Tábori, 86; on May 23, in Los Angeles; after complications of abdominal surgery. The third man to break 4:00, he equaled the 1500 WR of 3:40.8 in ’55 and twice ran on Hungarian teams which set 4 x 1500 WRs. He placed 4th in the ’56 Olympic 1500 as well as 6th in the 5000. World-Ranked No. 1 in the 1500 in ’55, also ranking in ’56 and ’60. Ranked No. 3 in the 5000 in ’55.
As a coach he tutored some of the early greats of U.S. women’s road running, including Boston Marathon winners/WR setters Jacqueline Hansen and Miki Gorman.
Died: Tom Von Ruden, 73; on May 17, in Sun City West, Arizona; of cancer. Won the ’65 NCAA Indoor 880, and also ran on 2 winning 4×8 teams for Oklahoma State. Was runner-up in the ’66 NCAA mile. Placed 9th in the ’68 Olympic 1500. Twice World Ranked in the 1500 with a high of No. 5 in ’67. Was U.S. Ranked 6 times in the 1500 and 3 times in the 800.
Died: Ray Weinberg, 91; on May 30, in Melbourne, of cancer. A two-time Olympian for Australia, he finished 6th in the 110H in ’52. World Ranked 4 times topped by No. 6s in ’50 & ’52.
