Bob Mathias

 

Robert Bruce Mathias, "Bob"
Stanford University, 1949-52

On August 6, 1948, 17-year-old Bob Mathias of Tulare High School competed in a grueling 10-event test of heart and muscle to become "the world’s greatest all-around athlete" at the Olympic Games decathlon. Four years later, the stronger and more experienced Mathias became the first ever to win the decathlon twice, setting a world record with 7887 points. Between his victories in London and Helsinki, Mathias competed in track for two years at Stanford University, and finally listened to football coach Chuck Taylor’s imploring and became a running back and kickoff return specialist. In a 1951 game deciding the conference championship, Mathias’ 96-yard kickoff return began Stanford’s victorious comeback. Enshrined in Bay Area Sport Hall of Fame in 1981.