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http://www.pausatf.org/data/2006/tfbobmathias.html

From:
Cynthia E. Stinger, Manager
UNITED STATES OLYMPIANS ASSOCIATION
Olympian '84, '88, '92
United States Olympic Committee

and

Mike Moran

Subject: Bob Mathias is very ill, wants calls and cards

Bob Mathias, one of our greatest living Olympians, is at home in Fresno battling cancer, and he would welcome calls and cards from Olympians and friends. He goes to Stanford once a week for experiental chemotherapy. His home address is 7469 Pine Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 and his phone is (559) 456-9245. His wife, Gwen, says he would love to hear from people because it lifts his spirits.

Please distribute this as widely as you can, so that we might get some calls and cards going for Bob at home.
Many thanks,
Mike Moran

Just a reminder that Bob won the 1948 (London) Olympic decathlon when he was 17 years old and became the first repeat winner in the event four years later at Helsinki.

An aspect of his career that would be of particular interest to PVP participants if memory serves me well (which it doesn't always do, these days) is that the first fibreglass pole was assembled for use by Mathias, made up of a section of the boom poles used on commercial fishing boats.

Usually dependable Google didn't confirm this, but other dates fit: The first fibreglass pole I saw in use was by San Diego State's Bobby Smith, at the Texas Relays in 1948.

That pole, brand-name Skypole, was lighter than a corresponding bamboo pole, but provided little more bend. It was easier to shift the lower hand up over its smooth surface than on knobby bamboo. Another advantage was that when bamboo broke, it usually snapped in two, leaving jagged edges to threaten the fall. When the Skypole broke, it was more like a cardboard mailing tube folding over.

Thanks to Mathias for his many contributions; including motivating the development of the fibreglass pole.

I heard that Bob died this week and then I saw his name this morning "In Memoriam" on ABC's "This Week". Thanks for the original post as I too gave him a call right after the post. What a hero and inspiration!! Bubba

Bubba PV wrote:I heard that Bob died this week and then I saw his name this morning "In Memoriam" on ABC's "This Week". Thanks for the original post as I too gave him a call right after the post. What a hero and inspiration!! Bubba

I think the Chicago Tribune said he passed at home on Saturday..