Wow, this one hurts.
We lost another giant.
As an 11 year old in 1976, I discover Olympic Track and Field. Hasely Crawford, Bruce Jenner, Don Quarrie....
and some good looking guy in the 400m final.
I don't remember what it was about him, and I don't recall any interviews. It just felt like the man had presence.
In 2010, I'm at Autzen Stadium, about to work my first NCAA Championships, and we're having a meeting the day before the event starts. I know no one besides a small handful of people from Oregon. I'm taking it all in, not really listening, and then I hear: "Meet Referee Fred Newhouse."
I had been away from track and field for decades, and only came back when I moved near Hayward Field. And yet hearing that name made me sit up.....is there any chance there are two Fred Newhouses in the world?!?
Laurie B is the chief umpire...I run up and beg her to introduce me.
What a thrill to share the track with him so many times since.
In 2012, I'm a trackside volunteer at the Trials. This little snippet resides in my blog....
(yes, I know he officially took silver...I told him I was going to Havana and retrieve the gold he earned)
A nice story of two titans....Fred and Alberto
A great video of Fred reflecting on his past.
That monster relay team....2:58 on a soggy track 49 years ago. Look at the world class smiles!!!! (And look at Bennie's broad shoulders!)
I loved hearing his stories....the 1972 Trials when he was killing the rounds? He takes the final out in 20.6 and fades like an old shirt....just hearing him laugh about that race made my day.
We're all going to miss him.
Fred was a good friend of mine, and he'll be missed. I can say that he was a Washington Husky for a short time. Fred was a graduate assistant track coach in the mid-70s after he got out of the Army at Fort Lewis, and was working on his masters in international business at UW.
ReplyDelete