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Athlete Bio

Bobby Morrow

Basic Information

Status: Hall of Fame Gender: Male Date of Birth: 10/15/1935

Athletics Information

Event: Outdoor Track & Field Agent: N/A

Residences

Hometown: Harlingen, TX College: Abilene Christian University

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Athlete Profile

The top sprinter of the middle 1950s, Bobby Morrow came from a small Texas college to emerge as one of the stars of the Melbourne Olympic Games. As a student at Abilene Christian, Morrow first attracted notice in 1955 when he won the AAU 100-yard dash title. The next year was his greatest. He started off by taking the national collegiate 100-200 sprint double, then won the AAU 100 for the second straight year. In Melbourne, he won three gold medals, taking the 100 and 200 and anchoring the winning 4x100m relay team. His success continued in 1957 when he repeated the national collegiate sprint double, also winning the Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete. In 1958, he took the AAU sprint double, the last major titles he won. Morrow tied the world records in the 100 and 200 six times (three times in each) and also ran on Abilene Christian quartets that set world records in the 4x110-yard and 4x220-yard relays in 1958. His duels with fellow Hall of Famer Dave Sime were some of the greatest in sprint history. Morrow made a comeback in 1960 and barely missed making the Olympic team. He was elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1989.

Records Held

World Record: 100 m - 10.20 (June 29, 1956 - )
World Record: 200 m - 20.60 (November 27, 1956 - )

Championships

1956 Olympics: 100 m (1st)
1956 Olympics: 200 m - 20.60 (1st)
1956 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1955 AAU: 100 yd. (1st)
1956 AAU: 100 yd. (1st)
1958 AAU: 100 yd. (1st)
1958 AAU: 220 yd. (1st)
1956 NCAA: 100 m (1st)
1956 NCAA: 200 m (1st)
1957 NCAA: 100 m (1st)
1957 NCAA: 200 m (1st)

Occupations

Farmer
Merchant

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