V 12 N. 11 Warren Jay 'Rex' Cawley US Olympic Champion 400 IH Tokyo 1964 R.I.P.

 I just heard from Russ Reabold of the USC Trojan Force alumni group that Rex Cawley passed away recently.  It's been a tough month for USC also losing Rink Babka in January.  At this time there is no obituary information published.

Rex was an incredible talent from Farmington, MI, and I was privileged as a green high school soph competing in my first big meet to see him win both hurdles races at the Mansfield Relays in Mansfield, Ohio.  That year was 1959.  The Relays attracted teams from western Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky and was huge in those days.  The venue would not hold up to most modern middle school tracks today.  It was cinders,  six lanes on the curves, and no wider on the main straightaway, and inside curbs we made of 1" x 6" wooden slats nailed to 2"x4"  stakes pounded into the ground.   (See photo below).  But the talent there never complained about the facility, they just ran like hell.  The meet had started in 1927, and in its time had hosted  Jesse Owens, and Harrison Dillard.  In the late 1950s, besides Rex Cawley, other greats who performed there were  Hayes Jones of Pontiac, MI,  Nate Adams (Cleveland Glenville), future Purdue All America,  and Paul Warfield (Warren, OH), US team long jumper and NFL great, Barry Sugden (Akron Buchtel)and Darnell Mitchell (Cleveland John Adams) both future All Americans at Ohio U.  Cary Wiesiger (Mt. Lebanon, PA) was another of those greats. 

Just down the road from the high school was the Mansfield Reformatory where one or two of my teammates also spent some time.   The Reformatory became famous as the set for the film "The Shawshank Redemption"

In 1959  Rex Cawley won the 120 yard HH in 14.3 and the 180 yard lows in 19.0.   Doesn't sound like much today, but that slow track and early April date just after the Spring thaw makes the times much more impressive.   Winning at Mansfield was a ticket to university for many who might never have had a chance.  For Rex it was a beginning and it led to USC and greatness. 

                                           In the stands at Moscow  1963  US Russia dual meet

                              front:  Blaine Lindgren,  Rex Cawley,  Jim Allen

                            second row:  Paul Drayton,  Frank Covelli,  Bill Sharpe

                                             Allen and Cawley leading the way at US Germany Dual  1963

A few years ago, I was privileged to meet Jim Allen, the former Washington State intermediate hurdler who was Rex's chief rival for world's best in 1963.   After Jim's passing two years ago, Jim's son Jeff was able to connect with Rex through the help of Trojan Force.   That is one of the main reasons I keep this blog going for the connections that it brings to many of our readers.

Below is a photo of that infamous Mansfield, OH track.

Nate Adams (Cleveland Glenville) is shown winning the 100 in 1960.

The rest of what you read will be from others whose stories and interviews with Rex were published elsewhere.;

Rex's race is not recorded on the official Olympic film for 1964 and only a brief interview on  youtube.  HOwever it is a very good talk about his early training and race strategy in Tokyo.

National High School Track and Field Hall of Fame  link

USA Track and Field Bio   link

Interview with Rex and some film of Olympic race

Hi George,

Here’s a copy of the Rex Cawley obit that the family sent me. However you want to post it is probably fine.

Warren Jay “Rex” Cawley passed away Friday, January 21st, 2022 at the age of 81 in his home in Orange, California. Rex was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Lynn, his children, Dena and Grant, his siblings Jay and Valerie, and his five grandchildren. 

 

Rex was born in Highland Park, Michigan to Harry and Erna Cawley. He attended Farmington High School, where he began his athletic career and set the school’s record for the 100-yard dash. His record still stands today. At 18 years old, Rex was named Track and Field News’ “High School Athlete of the Year” after becoming the only athlete to place in the first six of all three hurdle events at the 1959 AAU championships. Rex went on to attend the University of Southern California, earning a Bachelor of Science in sales administration and participating as a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. Despite battling injury, Rex ran several excellent track seasons at USC, winning two AAU championships and earning an NCAA title in the 400-meter hurdles. In 1964, Rex set a world record time of 49.1 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic trials, making him a favorite entering the Tokyo Olympic games. During the 1964 Olympic games, Rex won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, beating his nearest competitor by 0.5 seconds. Rex’s renowned athletic career led to his induction into The National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2006, the University of Southern California Hall of Fame in 2009, The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and The National High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2019. While his legacy as an athlete left an indelible mark on the world, those close to Rex celebrate him most for his kindness, competitive spirit, and strong faith. Rex loved problem solving, both for leisure and for the benefit of others. In addition to enjoying thought-intensive games, Rex had an impressive ability to fix just about anything. Rex was a music lover and could often be found with headphones on, entranced in song. In his later years, he blended his love of music with his love for Jesus Christ, teaching himself the keyboard so he could play alongside the “youngins” in the church band, as he fondly referred to them.  

 

Finding strength in God and with the support of his family and church, Rex displayed stoicism and uncomplaining courage throughout his battle with cancer. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered. 

A celebration of life will be held March 25th  from 10-12 @Vineyard Anaheim @ 5340 E. LaPalma, in Anaheim.