Harlow Rothert

Harlow Rothert was the outstanding sportsman of his generation at Stanford University. In 1928, 1929, and 1930 he was on their track, football, and basketball teams and was voted an All-America in basketball in 1930. In track, Rothert won the NCAA shot put for three years from 1928 and, after placing seventh at the 1928 Olympics, improved to take the silver in 1932.

Rothert graduated from Stanford in 1930 and later earned a law degree from Stanford in 1937. As a trial lawyer, Rothert specialized in civil law and founded a law firm in San Francisco, also teaching at Stanford Law School and Hastings College of Law. He also served with the US Marines during World War II.

As a two-time Olympian, Rothert was invited to run a leg of the torch relay prior to the 1996 Games in Atlanta, but due to acute inflammation in his legs could not walk by himself. He practiced four times a day with a walker and a hardware store also provided this with a special holder for the torch. On 3 May 1996 he proudly mastered the 2 km distance.

Personal Best: SP – 15.88 (1930).