Sheppard, Melvin W.
Track and Field
b. Sept. 5, 1883, Almonesson Lake, NJ
d. Jan. 4, 1942
Sheppard wanted to be a New York City policeman but was rejected because of a supposed heart problem. Within the next ten years, he won five Olympic medals, including four golds, set two world records, ran on four world record relay teams, and won five national championships in the 800-meter run.
His specialty was the 800-meter/880-yard run, where he liked to take the lead early and stay there. He won that way at the 1908 Olympics, where he also scored a surprise victory in the 1500-meter run by catching and passing world record holder Harold Wilson fifteen yards from the finish. Sheppard set world records in both wins, running 1:52.8 in the 800-meter and 4:03.4 in the 1500. He also ran a leg on the winning 1600-meter relay team.
At the 1912 Olympics, Sheppard finished second in the 800-meter to Ted Meredith. It was one of the closest races in history, with the first four finishers all under world record time. Sheppard was again on the 1600-meter relay team, which set a world record of 3:16.6.
Sheppard was the AAU 800-meter champion from 1906 through 1908 and in 1911 and 1912. He was a member of the national 2-mile relay team in 1910 and the 1-mile and 1600-meter relay teams in 1911. All three teams set world records.