Ralph Hammonds

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRalph Waldo•Hammonds
Used nameRalph•Hammonds
Born9 July 1906 in Lawton, Oklahoma (USA)
Died5 May 1966 in Houston, Texas (USA)
AffiliationsTexas Longhorns, Austin (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Ralph Hammonds was a versatile athlete at the University of Texas, a pole vaulter on the track team and a wrestler. He was Southwest Conference champion in the pole vault and finished tied for second at the 1927 NCAA Championships. Hammonds was AAU Champion in 1925-26 as a wrestler, and competed in the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928, where he placed second to George Rule of Oklahoma A&M. At the 1928 Olympic Trials, however, Hammonds went undefeated to earn his trip to Amsterdam, making him the first Olympian from the University of Texas.

Hammonds later wrestled professionally for a few years, but then became a sports promoter, in wrestling, golf, and fishing tournaments. He was instrumental in bringing the 1946 AAU Championships to San Antonio, the first major national championship to be held in Texas.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Wrestling USA Ralph Hammonds
Middleweight, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) =4