Bobby Morrow’s final race at the ’56 Olympics gave him his third gold and Team USA a World Record 39.5 in the 4×1. (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED)
[GARNER ROBERTS was the Sports Information Director at Abilene Christian for 26 years. He provided us with this remembrance after Morrow’s death on May 30.]
Born 15 Oct 1935 in Harlingen, Texas. 6 feet, 2 inches; 170 pounds. 1954 graduate of San Benito High School in San Benito, Texas. 1959 graduate of Abilene Christian College (now university) with B.S. degree in physical education. Son of Bob Floyd and Lucille Morrow, who owned and operated a 600-acre cotton and carrot farm near San Benito in lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Floyd Morrow (b. 03Dec06 / d. 23Dec83) was member of university’s Board of Trustees 1956-66 (Lucille b. 26Jul08 / d. 04Aug96). Bobby played football (running back) and ran track in HS in District 16-3A with three state sprint titles and won-loss record of 37-15 in individual sprints.
Coached in HS by Jake Watson (track & field) and Jim Barnes (football). Set 17 world outdoor records (three unratified) in 100-200-4×100-4×200 (only eight men set more) and won three gold medals in 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, as a 21-year-old sophomore at Abilene Christian. Eleven of his 17 WRs (two unratified) were set in 1956 (only U.S. sprinter Charley Paddock with 12 in 1921, including six unratified, set more in one year). Named Sportsman of the Year for 1956 by Sports Illustrated magazine ahead of NY Yankee star Mickey Mantle, World Series hero Don Larsen, Notre Dame all-America RB Paul Hornung, heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson and pro football MVP Frank Gifford of the NY Giants. Also named Athlete of Year by Sport magazine and pictured on covers of Life, Sport, Track & Field News and other magazines. Appeared on popular Ed Sullivan TV show, addressed joint session of Texas Senate and House of Representatives, and won Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete in U.S.
Compiled collegiate outdoor record of 80-8 with 14 national individual championships in 100-200 (4 USA, 4 NCAA, 6 NAIA). First man since legendary Jesse Owens to win three gold medals at Olympic Games. Member of Texas, U.S. Olympic, ACU, National Track & field, NAIA, Rio Grande Valley Sports, and Helms Athletic Foundation Halls of Fame. Named in 1959 by U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of nine “Great Living Americans.” His three gold medals were donated by Morrow to Smithsonian Institute, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and ACU. Often called “the greatest sprinter of all time” and “world’s fastest human.” Veteran track & field writer Maxwell Stiles of Los Angeles, in 1958-59 study titled “The Greatest Sprinters,” named Morrow the best.
His collegiate coach, Oliver Jackson, told Sports Illustrated in 1956: “We really have no idea how fast that boy can actually run.” Of his smooth running form, Jackson added, “He could run a 220 with a root beer float on his head and never spill a drop.” Fellow 1956 Olympian Bob Richards, who won the vault in Melbourne, said, “On a modern track surface, there is no doubt in my mind that Bobby would have run an 8-something 100 meters. He was the greatest sprinter I ever saw.” Jackson added, “He had the most phenomenal career I guess that a sprinter has ever had.”
His lifetime record in individual races, thanks to Track & Field News and former ACU sports publicists Charles H. Marler and Walter E. Burch. Corrections welcome.
High School Sophomore in 1951-52 (won 2-lost 11) age 16
Time
Event
Place
Meet
Date
22.7
220y
(1)
dual meet vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, San Benito
22Feb52
(nt)
100y
(np)
All-Valley meet, Pharr
01Mar52
10.2
100y
(1)
Tri-City meet, San Benito
22Mar52
(nt)
220y
(2)
Tri-City meet, San Benito
22Mar52
(nt)
100y
(3)
Donna Relays, Donna
01Apr52
(nt)
100y
(3)
Quarterback Relays, McAllen
04Apr52
(nt)
220y
(2)
Quarterback Relays, McAllen
04Apr52
(nt)
100y
(3)
District meet, San Benito
09Apr52
(nt)
220y
(2)
District meet, San Benito
09Apr52
(nt)
100y
(np)
Regional meet, Kingsville
28Apr52
(nt)
220y
(2)
Regional meet, Kingsville
28Apr52
(nt)
100y
(np)
State meet, Austin
03May52
(nt)
220y
(np)
State meet, Austin
03May52
High School Junior in 1952-53 (18-4) age 17
10.5
100y
(1)
dual meet vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, San Benito
27Feb53
22.2
220y
(1)
dual meet vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, San Benito
27Feb53
10.3
100y
(1)
triangular meet, San Benito
03Mar53
(nt)
220y
(2)
triangular meet, San Benito
03Mar53
10.1
100y
(1)
All-Valley meet, Pharr
06Mar53
22.5
220y
(1)
All-Valley meet, Pharr
06Mar53
10.5
100y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo (9.9 in prelims)
14Mar53
23.1
220y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
14Mar53
10.1
100y
(1)
Donna Relays, Donna
28Mar53
22.7
220y
(1)
Donna Relays, Donna
28Mar53
9.9
100y
(1)
Quarterback Relays, McAllen
04Apr53
22.8
220y
(1)
Quarterback Relays, McAllen
04Apr53
9.9
100y
(1)
District meet, San Benito
11Apr53
21.4
220y
(1)
District meet, San Benito
11Apr53
10.2
100y
(1)
Meet of Champions, San Benito
17Apr53
23.2
220y
(1)
Meet of Champions, San Benito
17Apr53
9.8
100y
(1)
Regional meet, Kingsville
25Apr53
21.8
220y
(1)
Regional meet, Kingsville
25Apr53
(nt)
100y
(2)
State qualifiers meet, San Antonio
02May53
(nt)
220y
(2)
State qualifiers meet, San Antonio
02May53
9.8
100y
(1)
State meet, Austin
09May53
(nt)
220y
(3)
State meet, Austin
09May53
High School Senior in 1953-54 (undefeated: 17-0) (HS record 37-15) age 18
9.6
100y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
12Mar54
21.2
220y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
12Mar54
9.8
100y
(1)
Hub City Relays, Alice
19Mar54
22.0
220y
(1)
Hub City Relays, Alice
19Mar54
10.0
100y
(1)
Donna Relays, Donna
27Mar54
22.7
220y
(1)
Donna Relays, Donna
27Mar54
9.6
100y
(1)
Texas Relays, Austin
03Apr54
9.8
100y
(1)
District meet, Kingsville
17Apr54
22.1
220y
(1)
District meet, Kingsville
17Apr54
9.9
100y
(1)
Meet of Champions, San Benito
20Apr54
21.8
220y
(1)
Meet of Champions, San Benito
20Apr54
9.6
100y
(1)
Regional meet, Kingsville
24Apr54
21.5
220y
(1)
Regional meet, Kingsville
24Apr54
10.0
100y
(1)
State qualifiers meet, San Antonio
01May54
22.1
220Y
(1)
State qualifiers meet, San Antonio
01May54
9.7
100y
(1)
State meet, Austin
08May54
21.1
200y
(1)
State meet, Austin
08May54
College Freshman in 1954-55 (17-1) age 19
9.5w
100y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
12Mar55
20.5w
220y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
12Mar55
9.7
100y
(1)
quadrangular meet, Austin
19Mar55
21.6
220y
(1)
quadrangular meet, Austin
19Mar55
9.8
100y
(1)
Texas Relays, Austin
02Apr55
9.5w
100y
(1)
North Texas Relays, Denton
06Apr55
9.3w
100y
(1)
quadrangular meet, Commerce
16Apr55
20.7w
220y
(1)
quadrangular meet, Commerce
16Apr55
9.5
100y
(1)
triangular meet, Denton
05May55
21.6
220y
(1)
triangular meet, Denton
05May55
9.5
100y
(1)
dual meet vs. North Texas, Abilene
13May55
20.7
220y
(1)
dual meet vs. North Texas, Abilene
13May55
9.1w
100y
(1)
NAIA national meet, Abilene (9.4 in prelims)
04Jun55
[from 1995 edition of “Progression of World Best Performances and Official IAAF World Records” (p. 15): The wind gauge operator reported that the wind touched 7.32 mph (3.3 m/s) at the 25-yard mark, was back to 3.5 (1.6 m/s) or less at the end, and was virtually zero at the start. The average wind rule, if applied, would have yielded a reading of 1.7 or 1.8, and so this might have been the first official 9.1.]
20.9w
220y
(1)
NAIA national meet, Abilene
04Jun55
9.7
100y
(1)
AAU South Texas meet, Houston
11Jun55
21.3
220y
(1)
AAU South Texas meet, Houston
11Jun55
9.5
100y
(1)
AAU national meet, Boulder, Colo.
24Jun55
(nt)
220y
(4)
AAU national meet, Boulder, Colo.
25Jun55
[1. Rod Richards 21.0, 2. Dick Blair, 3. Andy Stanfield]
College Sophomore in 1955-56 (33-1) age 20
9.8
100y
(1)
AAU tour, Dunedin, New Zealand
17Dec55
21.4
220y
(1)
AAU tour, Dunedin, New Zealand
17Dec55
9.8
100y
(1)
AAU tour, Christchurch, New Zealand
21Dec55
22.3
220y
(1)
AAU tour, Christchurch, New Zealand
21Dec55
9.6
100y
(1)
AAU tour, Napier, New Zealand
26Dec55
21.0
220y
(1)
AAU tour, Napier, New Zealand
26Dec55
9.3w
100y
(1)
AAU tour, Auckland, New Zealand
28Dec55
21.0w
220y
(1)
AAU tour, Auckland, New Zealand
28Dec55
9.4
100y
(1)
AAU tour, Melbourne, Australia
04Jan56
21.9
220y
(1)
AAU tour, Melbourne, Australia
04Jan56
10.5
100m
(1)
AAU tour, Melbourne, Australia
07Jan56
21.6
200m
(1)
AAU tour, Melbourne, Australia
07Jan56
9.6
100y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
10Mar56
21.0
220y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
10Mar56
9.6
100y
(1)
Southwest Recreation meet, Fort Worth
17Mar56
20.7
220y
(1)
Southwest Recreation meet, Fort Worth
17Mar56
9.5
100y
(1)
West Texas Relays, Odessa
24Mar56
9.6
100y
(1)
quadrangular meet, Abilene
28Mar56
9.5
100y
(1)
Texas Relays, Austin
07Apr56
9.4
100y
(2)
Drake Relays, Des Moines, Iowa
28Apr56
[1. Dave Sime 9.4]
9.5
100y
(1)
Gulf Coast Conference, Denton
11May56
22.2
220y
(1)
Gulf Coast Conference, Denton
11May56
10.2
100m
(1)
U.S. Southern championships, Houston
=WR
19May56
21.4
200m
(1)
U.S. Southern championships, Houston
19May56
9.4
100y
(1)
California Relays, Modesto
28May56
10.4
100m
(1)
AAU South Texas meet, Corpus Christi
02Jun56
21.0
200m
(1)
AAU South Texas meet, Corpus Christi
02Jun56
10.3
100m
(1)
NAIA national meet, San Diego, Calif.
09Jun56
20.8
200m
(1)
NAIA national meet, San Diego, Calif.
09Jun56
10.4
100m
(1)
NCAA national meet, Berkeley, Calif.
16Jun56
20.6
200m
(1)
NCAA national meet, Berkeley, Calif.
=WR
16Jun56
10.3
100m
(1)
AAU national meet, Bakersfield (10.2p=WR)
22Jun56
10.3
100m
(1)
U.S. Olympic Trials, Los Angeles (10.2p=WR)
29Jun56
20.6
200m
(1)
U.S. Olympic Trials, Los Angeles, Calif.
=WR
30Jun56
College Junior in 1956-57 (20-1) age 21
10.5
100m
(1)
Olympic Games, Melbourne, Australia
24Nov56
[10.3 in QF and SF]
20.6
200m
(1)
Olympic Games, Melbourne, Australia
=WR
27Nov56
9.5
100y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
09Mar57
20.2
220y
(1)
Border Olympics, Laredo
09Mar57
9.5
100y
(1)
Southwest Recreation, Fort Worth
16Mar57
9.4w
100y
(1)
West Texas Relays, Odessa
23Mar57
9.3w
100y
(1)
dual meet vs. North Texas, Abilene
26Mar57
20.0w
220y
(1)
dual meet vs. North Texas, Abilene
26Mar57
10.4
100m
(1)
North Texas Relays, Denton
30Mar57
9.3w
100y
(1)
Texas Relays, Austin
06Apr57
9.3w
100y
(1)
Dallas Invitational, Dallas
18Apr57
9.4
100y
(1)
Drake Relays, Des Moines, Iowa
27Apr57
9.5
100y
(1)
College Championships, San Marcos
02May57
9.4
100y
(1)
West Coast Relays, Fresno, Calif.
11May57
9.5
100y
(1)
U.S. Southern Championship, Houston
18May57
9.4
100y
(1)
Coliseum Relays, Los Angeles, Calif.
24May57
9.4
100y
(2)
Compton Invitational, Compton, Calif.
31May57
[1. Willie White 9.4]
9.5
100y
(1)
NAIA national meet, San Diego, Calif.
08Jun57
21.1
220y
(1)
NAIA national meet, San Diego, Calif.
08Jun57
9.4
100y
(1)
NCAA national meet, Austin
15Jun57
[9.3 in prelims =WR 14Jun57]
21.0
220y
(1)
NCAA national meet, Austin
15Jun57
[Race-by-race for Morrow’s junior year does not include pre-Olympic time trials:
13Oct56
Berkeley
King 10.3m, Murchison 10.4, Morrow 10.5
13Oct56
Berkeley
Morrow 21.4m
20Oct56
Ontario
King 10.1m, Morrow 10.2
20Oct56
Ontario
Morrow and King =21.3m
27Oct56
Santa Ana
King 10.1m, Baker 10.2, Murchison 10.4, Morrow 10.4
01Nov56
Los Angeles
King 10.4m, Murchison 10.5, Morrow 10.6
01Nov56
Los Angeles
Morrow 20.8m
17Nov56
Bendigo
Morrow 20.9y]
College Senior in 1957-58 (10-5) age 22 (collegiate record 80-8)
9.7w
100y
(1)
Southwest Recreation, Fort Worth
15Mar58
9.6
100y
(1)
West Texas Relays, Odessa
22Mar58
9.7
100y
(3)
ABC Relays, Big Spring
05Apr58
[1. Dave Sime 9.6, 2. Bill Woodhouse]
9.6
100y
(2)
triangular vs. North Texas, Baylor, Abilene
12Apr58
[1. Bill Woodhouse 9.5]
9.5
100y
(1)
Dallas Invitational, Dallas
17Apr58
20.6
220y
(2)
Dallas Invitational, Dallas
17Apr58
[1. Eddie Southern 20.6]
9.3w
100y
(2)
triangular vs. North Texas, Texas Tech, Ab
19Apr58
[1. Bill Woodhouse 9.3w]
9.7
100y
(2)
Coliseum Relays, Los Angeles (grass)
17May58
[1. Ray Norton 9.7]
9.4
100y
(1)
California Relays, Modesto
31May58
9.4
100y
(1)
Meet of Champions, Houston
07Jun58
20.4
220y
(1)
Meet of Champions, Houston
07Jun58
[ineligible for NCAA meet because he ran with varsity as freshman in 1955]
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