Glenn Morris

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGlenn Edward•Morris
Used nameGlenn•Morris
Born18 June 1912 in Simla, Colorado (USA)
Died31 January 1974 in Palo Alto, California (USA)
Measurements188 cm / 84 kg
AffiliationsDenver Athletic Club, Denver (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

After graduating from Colorado State in 1934, Glenn Morris stayed on at Fort Collins and worked as a part-time assistant to football coach, Harry Hughes. This gave Morris the time and facilities to develop his talents as a decathlete and in April 1936 he broke the U.S. record in his first ever decathlon competition at the Kansas Relays. Two months later, he won the Final Trials with a new world record (7,875) and in his third and final competition, Morris won the Olympic title, again with a new world record (7,900), after he had trailed teammate Bob Clark by two points after the first day.

In October 1936 Morris signed a contract with NBC as a radio announcer and in 1938 he had a brief career in movies, playing in three films, including the title role in “Tarzan’s Revenge.” He had a similarly brief career as a pro footballer with the Detroit Lions in 1940 and after being seriously wounded while serving as a naval officer in the Pacific he found employment difficult to come by. Sadly for a man who had been a nationwide celebrity after his Olympic victory, he died in poor circumstances in Palo Alto, California. In 2011 Colorado State honored him by re-naming the South College Field House the Glenn Morris Field House.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.6 (1936); 400 – 49.4 (1936); 110H – 14.6 (1936); 400H – 544 (1934); LJ – 22-10½ (6.97) (1936); SP – 47-5 (14.45) (1936); DT – 141-5 (43.10) (1936); JT – 183-11 (56.06) (1936); Dec – 7254 (1936).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Glenn Morris
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold

Special Notes