Jack Ryder (track and field)
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Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 1953 (aged 77) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Track and field | |
| 1906–1911 | South Boston Athletic Club |
| 1911–1952 | Boston Athletic Association |
| 1919–1952 | Boston College |
John A. Ryder (died 1953) was an American track and field coach for the Boston Athletic Association and Boston College. He was also an assistant coach for the 1928 USA Olympic track and field team.
A native of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, Ryder was the son of a lamplighter and first became interested in running when he filled in on his father's route.[1]
Ryder began running in 1894 for the Dorchester Athletic Club. He won eight races in his first year and in 1895, now a member of the Suffolk Athletic Club, was a scratch runner in the mile. He did not run in 1896 due to an injured ankle. He was a successful half-mile runner in 1897, winning most of the races he entered. He turned professional in 1898 and won 52 of the 56 races he ran that year. The following year, he won 51 of 54 races. In 1900, he won 58 of 64 races. In 1903, he won every half-mile race in Boston. His final race came in 1904, when he broke a track record in a quarter mile race in Maspeth.[2]
Personal life
On December 28, 1903, Ryder married Bridget Sheerin.[3][1] They had nine children.[3] Their eldest son, John T. Ryder, was an associate graduate manager of athletics at Boston College and a copy editor the Boston Evening Traveller.[3][1] Another son, Frank Ryder, was a road racer and Major League Baseball groundskeeper.[4]
Outside of track, Ryder spent 17 years as an immigration inspector.[1]
