Ed Beeson

Ed Beeson attended high school at Healdsburg where he started his career as a high jumper. He was fostered by Ralph Rose, who was six years his senior and attended the same high school. Beeson developed his own style (later known as the Western roll) based on Rose’s hints and was already a remarkable high jumper when he entered the University of California in 1910. There, he was requested also to run the high hurdles, which somewhat slowed his improvements in high jump.

Beeson excelled as a hurdler, reaching third place in the world rankings in 1911. In the same year, he was also third in the high jump rankings clearing 1.90 for the first time. He held the same position in 1912 and placed second in the US trials for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, however, he did not compete. His rival George Horine, who was also an inspiration for Beeson, became the first man to clear 2 metres (6-7) in 1912.

Nevertheless, Beeson was #1 in the world rankings in 1913 for the first time. In 1914, competing as a member of the Olympic Club he faced Horine in the fifth annual Pacific Coast. The event was particularly set to give Horine and Beeson a chance to better the world record. Indeed, Beeson set a new world record of 6-7 5/16 (2.015 ), which remained unbroken until 1924.

Ed Beeson became a dentist and earned a doctor’s degree. In World War I, he served as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Dental Corps. After the war, he officiated at Inter-Collegiate meets and Olympic trials. His future wife, Bera Bethal Mothorn, was also an active sportswoman and a member of the Girls Basketball State Championship team in 1908. In addition to running his dental practice in his hometown, he coached the Healdsburg High School track team. In 1932, he even served as a full-time assistant coach at U Cal Berkeley for six months. He subsequently turned down an offer to become head coach so that he could maintain his dental practice. In 1955, the municipality of Healdsburg dedicated a statue to four of its outstanding athletes including Beeson, Ralph Rose, and tennis gold medallist Hazel Wightman.