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Memoralizing Alum John Woodruff's 1936 Olympic Gold Medal

Issue Date: 
October 24, 2011
An interactive display showing the Gold Medal won by University of Pittsburgh alumnus and track star John Woodruff at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin was unveiled Oct. 14 on the first floor of Pitt’s Hillman Library. University Library System Director and Hillman Librarian Rush Miller and Pitt Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Robert Hill hosted the event; Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg and other Pitt officials delivered remarks. From left, Chancellor Nordenberg; John Woodruff Jr., a New York City attorney; and Miller.An interactive display showing the Gold Medal won by University of Pittsburgh alumnus and track star John Woodruff at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin was unveiled Oct. 14 on the first floor of Pitt’s Hillman Library. University Library System Director and Hillman Librarian Rush Miller and Pitt Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Robert Hill hosted the event; Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg and other Pitt officials delivered remarks. From left, Chancellor Nordenberg; John Woodruff Jr., a New York City attorney; and Miller.
From left, Melanie Hartsell, a Grand Prairie, Texas, teacher whose eighth-grade math class calculated that Woodruff set a world record when he won an 800-meter race in 1937 against the world-record holder Elroy Robinson. Amateur Athletic Union officials revoked Woodruff’s record, claiming that the track was not of regulation length. She is accompanied by her daughter, Nicole Hartsell. From left, Melanie Hartsell, a Grand Prairie, Texas, teacher whose eighth-grade math class calculated that Woodruff set a world record when he won an 800-meter race in 1937 against the world-record holder Elroy Robinson. Amateur Athletic Union officials revoked Woodruff’s record, claiming that the track was not of regulation length. She is accompanied by her daughter, Nicole Hartsell.
From left, Alonzo Webb, head coach of Pitt's Track and Field team; Chancellor Nordenberg; Woodruff Jr.; Pitt trustee Herbert P. Douglas Jr. (EDUC ’48, ’50G), a bronze medalist in the long jump at the 1948 Olympics; and Steve Pederson, Pitt athletic director. From left, Alonzo Webb, head coach of Pitt's Track and Field team; Chancellor Nordenberg; Woodruff Jr.; Pitt trustee Herbert P. Douglas Jr. (EDUC ’48, ’50G), a bronze medalist in the long jump at the 1948 Olympics; and Steve Pederson, Pitt athletic director.
Roger Kingdom (CGS ’02), winner of two Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1988) in the 100 meter hurdles, talks with Ashley Corum, Big East champ in the triple jump (left), and Ashley Woodford, who holds Pitt’s school record in the 4x100 event.Roger Kingdom (CGS ’02), winner of two Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1988) in the 100 meter hurdles, talks with Ashley Corum, Big East champ in the triple jump (left), and Ashley Woodford, who holds Pitt’s school record in the 4x100 event.
From left, Woodruff Jr. and Hill flank the interactive display.From left, Woodruff Jr. and Hill flank the interactive display.
From left, Kingdom, Arnold M. Sowell Sr. (BUS ’57), who set an indoor world record for the 880-yard run in 1957, outrunning gold medalist Tom Courtney; and Douglas.From left, Kingdom, Arnold M. Sowell Sr. (BUS ’57), who set an indoor world record for the 880-yard run in 1957, outrunning gold medalist Tom Courtney; and Douglas.