Vern McGrew (December 7, 1929 – January 9, 2012)[1] was an American high jumper. He competed in the high jump event at the 1948 Summer Olympics at the age of eighteen. He used the western roll technique, which was common at the time, and in 1948 achieved a career best clearance of 2.04 meters (6 ft 8¼ in).[2]
Born in Big Spring, Texas, he went on to attend Lamar High School in Houston, graduating in 1946. That year he won the Texan state championship with a state record jump. He gained a place at Rice University and competed for the Rice Owls athletic team under their coach Emmett Brunson. McGrew became the second Rice alumnus to take part in an Olympic event, after Claude Bracey in 1928.[3]
The 1948 Olympics was his only major international appearance but he achieved some success at national level. While studying at Rice University he competed at the NCAA Championship, coming third in 1948 and finishing as runner-up in 1949.[2] He completed this upward trend by winning the NCAA high jump title in 1950 with a jump of over two meters (6 ft 7 in).[4] At the national-level AAU Championship meeting he was third in 1948 (where he gained Olympic selection), but managed only fifth place the year after.[2]
McGrew undertook post-graduate study at the University of Texas and later the University of Texas Law School. He signed up for military service from 1954 to 1956. He did not take part in athletics in his later life and instead used his studies to gain a placement at Humble Oil, at which he spent 30 years of his working life. He retired in the 1980s and lived until the age of 82. He died at Methodist Hospital in Houston.[3]
Referencesedit
^"Vern McGrew Obituary". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^ abc. sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^ abRice Remembers Vern McGrew. Rice University (2012-01-12). Retrieved on 2012-02-07.
^NCAA Division I Championships (Men). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2012-02-07.
April 12, 2024
vern, mcgrew, december, 1929, january, 2012, american, high, jumper, competed, high, jump, event, 1948, summer, olympics, eighteen, used, western, roll, technique, which, common, time, 1948, achieved, career, best, clearance, meters, personal, informationbirth. Vern McGrew December 7 1929 January 9 2012 1 was an American high jumper He competed in the high jump event at the 1948 Summer Olympics at the age of eighteen He used the western roll technique which was common at the time and in 1948 achieved a career best clearance of 2 04 meters 6 ft 8 in 2 Vern McGrewPersonal informationBirth nameVerne Voorhees McGrew Jr NationalityAmericanBorn 1929 12 07 December 7 1929Big Spring Texas United StatesDiedJanuary 9 2012 2012 01 09 aged 82 Houston Texas United StatesSportSportTrack and fieldEventHigh jumpBorn in Big Spring Texas he went on to attend Lamar High School in Houston graduating in 1946 That year he won the Texan state championship with a state record jump He gained a place at Rice University and competed for the Rice Owls athletic team under their coach Emmett Brunson McGrew became the second Rice alumnus to take part in an Olympic event after Claude Bracey in 1928 3 The 1948 Olympics was his only major international appearance but he achieved some success at national level While studying at Rice University he competed at the NCAA Championship coming third in 1948 and finishing as runner up in 1949 2 He completed this upward trend by winning the NCAA high jump title in 1950 with a jump of over two meters 6 ft 7 in 4 At the national level AAU Championship meeting he was third in 1948 where he gained Olympic selection but managed only fifth place the year after 2 McGrew undertook post graduate study at the University of Texas and later the University of Texas Law School He signed up for military service from 1954 to 1956 He did not take part in athletics in his later life and instead used his studies to gain a placement at Humble Oil at which he spent 30 years of his working life He retired in the 1980s and lived until the age of 82 He died at Methodist Hospital in Houston 3 References edit Vern McGrew Obituary Houston Chronicle Retrieved January 21 2012 a b c Vern McGrew Olympic Results sports reference com Archived from the original on April 18 2020 Retrieved January 21 2012 a b Rice Remembers Vern McGrew Rice University 2012 01 12 Retrieved on 2012 02 07 NCAA Division I Championships Men GBR Athletics Retrieved on 2012 02 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vern McGrew amp oldid 1156457483, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
