Morris, Glenn E.
Track and Field
b. June 18, 1912, Simla, CO
d. Jan. 31, 1974
Morris competed in just three decathlons during his brief career, but he won all three, set two world records, and won an Olympic gold medal in the process.
After playing football and competing in track at Colorado State University, Morris became an assistant coach at the school in 1934 and began training for the decathlon. In April of 1936, he won his first competition with a U. S. record of 7,575 points.
In June, Morris won the Olympic trials with a world record 7,880 points, and he went on to win the gold medal with another world record, 7,900 points. That record stood until 1950. He won the Sullivan Award as the outstanding amateur athlete of the year.
He retired from competition to become a radio announcer for NBC. Morris played Tarzan in the 1936 movie, Tarzan's Revenge, with former Olympic swimmer Eleanor Holm as Jane. He also played professional football with the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1940.