Ron Morris (pole vaulter)
American pole vaulter (1935–2024)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ronald Hugh Morris (April 27, 1935 – May 31, 2024) was an American track and field athlete who won the national title in pole vault in 1958, 1961 and 1962.[3] He placed fourth at the 1959 Pan American Games and second at the 1960 Summer Olympics.[4] Morris vaulted 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) in June 1971 for a Masters M35 World Record at the 1971 Los Angeles Senior Olympics. After retiring from competitions, he worked as athletics coach.[1] Morris competed for the USC Trojans track and field team.[4] He died on May 31, 2024, at the age of 89.[5]
FullnameRonald Hugh Morris
BornApril 27, 1935
Glendale, California, U.S.
DiedMay 31, 2024 (aged 89)
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Morris (left) at the 1960 Olympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ronald Hugh Morris |
| Born | April 27, 1935 Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 31, 2024 (aged 89) |
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Pole vault |
| Club | Southern California Striders |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 5.03 m (1966)[1][2] |
Medal record | |
His athletic and coaching experience includes:
- 1952–1953 Two time California Interscholastic Pole Vault and U.S. Interscholastic Record Holder[1]
- 1955–1957 Twice Intercollegiate All-American and University of Southern California Pole Vault Record Holder
- 1956 Sixth man in history to clear 15 feet
- 1956–1966 Eight times AAU All-American – ranked in the top 10 in the world for ten years
- 1960 Silver Medal in XVII Olympiad, Rome, Italy
- 1962 Only World Class athlete to successfully convert from steel to fiberglass (ranked #1 in the world that year)
- 1978 Ranked by Track and Field News as the 2nd Best Pole Vaulter (longevity) in history
- 1960–1978 Track Coach at California State University, Los Angeles (prepared several All-American athletes)
- 1978–? Owner and operator of On Track
