Boo Morcom
Encyclopedia
Albert Richmond "Boo" Morcom (born May 1, 1921) is a retired American
track and field
athlete. He was born in the state of Massachusetts
. While he is primarily known for his exploits in the pole vault
event, he has demonstrated versatility in other events. At the age of 19 he was the best pole vaulter in the state of Massachusetts. He became known as "the Barefoot Boy" for his habit of high jumping with one shoe on and one shoe off. His fame spread as he pole vaulted on an athletic tour of Canada
with three other athletes including Babe Ruth
. In 1940 he took his athletic skills to the University of New Hampshire
, but his studies were interrupted by World War II
. Before departing for the conflict, he won the 1942 United States National Championships in the pole vault. He also finished in second place in the high jump
. He returned to UNH to become the 1947 NCAA pole vault champion.
for the United States, finishing in 6th place after passing at lesser heights, then missing at the height the eventual winners would clear of 4.20 meters. A week later he beat the winning height by 6 inches. In 1949 he won his second United States national championship.
He graduated with a degree in biology and went on to coach Track and Field at the University of Pennsylvania
for 35 years before returning to coach in New Hampshire
. He started one of the first high school track teams for girls in 1954 and opened the Penn athletic facilities to poor minority high school students.
, long jump
, decathlon
, and pentathlon
. He continued to vault past age 75, still ranked number one. He became well-known for these activities, encountering, by his recollection, Jesse Owens
, Wilt Chamberlain
, and Jackie Robinson
. He appeared on The Bob Hope Show. He was inducted into the Masters section of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
in 1997.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete. He was born in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. While he is primarily known for his exploits in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
event, he has demonstrated versatility in other events. At the age of 19 he was the best pole vaulter in the state of Massachusetts. He became known as "the Barefoot Boy" for his habit of high jumping with one shoe on and one shoe off. His fame spread as he pole vaulted on an athletic tour of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with three other athletes including Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
. In 1940 he took his athletic skills to the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
, but his studies were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Before departing for the conflict, he won the 1942 United States National Championships in the pole vault. He also finished in second place in the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
. He returned to UNH to become the 1947 NCAA pole vault champion.
Olympics
Morcom competed in the pole vault at the 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
for the United States, finishing in 6th place after passing at lesser heights, then missing at the height the eventual winners would clear of 4.20 meters. A week later he beat the winning height by 6 inches. In 1949 he won his second United States national championship.
He graduated with a degree in biology and went on to coach Track and Field at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
for 35 years before returning to coach in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. He started one of the first high school track teams for girls in 1954 and opened the Penn athletic facilities to poor minority high school students.
Masters
Morcom continued to compete in athletics as he advanced in age, competing in college meets through his 40s. As an early pioneer of masters athletics, he held the world record for the pole vault as he passed through each of the age divisions between age 50 and 70, plus world records in the high jumpHigh jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
, long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
, decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, and pentathlon
Pentathlon
A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente and -athlon . The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games...
. He continued to vault past age 75, still ranked number one. He became well-known for these activities, encountering, by his recollection, Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
, Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
, and Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
. He appeared on The Bob Hope Show. He was inducted into the Masters section of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
in 1997.