Gymnastics
b. June 9, 1930, Los Angeles, CA
Competing for the University of Southern California, Beckner won the NCAA parallel bars championship in 1951 and both the parallel bars and the all-around title in 1952. After graduating, he became the school's unpaid volunteer gymnastics coach while continuing to compete for the Los Angeles Turners.
Beckner won four straight national all-around championships, from 1956 through 1959; he was the national horizontal bars champion in 1958 and 1960, and the pommel horse champion in 1959. A member of three Olympic teams, in 1952, 1956, and 1960, Beckner barely failed to make the 1964 team.
He retired from competition in 1967 and could then officially become a member of the USC athletic staff and receive a salary. He coached the team through 1982, and was also the coach of the 1968 U. S. Olympic team. USC won the 1968 NCAA team championship.
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