Ralph Boston
May 19, 1939 - April 30, 2023
The following conversation came home this morning between Bob Roncker and Bill Schnier, two of the venerable figures in Cincinnati track and field.
On Mon, May 1, 2023 at 8:11 AM
From Bob: Ralph Boston dies.Personal remembrances of Boston:"In 1967 I attended the NAIA Championships in Sioux Falls, SD. Boston was performing and doing quite well in multiple events for Tennessee State. That’s when I realized that he was more than just a long jumper"."In 1969 the University of Tennessee hosted the NCAA Meet. I, and a number of Cincinnati Elder HS team members, with some parents, attended that event. I recall intently listening to Boston as he gave an outdoor clinic on the long jump. The main point that I recall was his saying not to take off from the middle of the board, which gets chewed up, but rather to land closer to the edge of the board for additional spring".
Bill's reply:
"I was at that same NCAA meet and heard Boston's suggestion to jump off the side of the board which I have passed down to others over the years. Only a few took his and my advice".
"Boston always reminded me of being the Bill Russell of T&F. After graduation he lived in Knoxville and always ran the LJ and TJ at the UT meets at Tom Black Track. He was there to serve even though he was better than almost any jumper he measured".''
My first memory of Ralph Boston was as a high school junior doing a campus visit at Ohio University in 1960. It was a cold and snowy day in April watching the Ohio U. Relays. Ralph was there with his Tennessee State team competing in terrible conditions. All I really remember is his winning the 120HH. Did I see him long jump? Wish I could say yes. But when I saw him win the gold in Rome a few months later I was sure I remembered his jumping in Athens, Ohio. He really emerged that spring as the incredible athlete that he would be for the next eight years, but he had so many skills in other events, he was just incredible. And to go with all that he was a modest, polite, well spoken man.
He was more than good in a lot of events and possibly with some work in the shot and discus could have been an international level decathlete. He was once national champion indoors in the 60yd. hurdles. His PR's were: PV 13' 8" , 120yd HH 13.7, HJ 6' 8 1/2", TJ 52' 1 1/2" Jav 169'. and LJ 27' 5". All told, Ralph set the long jump WR on six occasions. When Bob Beamon broke Ralph's last record by almost 2 feet, it was said that Ralph counseled him during that competition in Mexico City to adjust his marks to come in better on the board.
Ralph Boston on his way to gold in Rome 1960
A rare photo of Ralph Boston and Theron Lewis
taken by Cliff Severn in Tokyo 1964
from Bruce Kritzler in Gainesville, FL: Ralph lived on St. Simons Island, GA for about 14yrs till 2020. not much t&f there, but one old timer had attended many olympic games. his wife even said Dave Wottle was her favorite athlete. he was in charge of obtaining speakers for local Kiwanis club meetings, and said he wanted me to be guest at next meeting. also wanted me to arrive an hour early to talk with speaker Ralph Boston! great, and Ralph, who owned a beach house on St Simons, brought along buddy, John Thomas. enjoyed conversing with the old pros. Ralph had retired to Peachtree City, GA, but still owned a tv station in Knoxville. John had health issues and would pass within about a yr of his visit. about a month later was at a ga tech meet, and there was ralph watching the collegians and talking with coaches. a true man of the people, a humble olympic champion, who credited others for his successes in life and sport.
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Ralph Boston - the Bill Russell of track in the 1960. PERFECT Saw him compete at OSU and OU
RIP Ralph
You were truly one of the great ones.
It was honor to know you!
John Bork
Strider Teammate
I remember that spectacular jump In Rome. Stephen V. Morelock
1 comment:
I was honored to watch Ralph Boston compete on quite a few occasions during my years at Long Beach State and later with the 49er TC and the Pacific Coast Club. Obviously a wonderful man who was a joy to watch in his favorite event. Never a cross word spoken about him by his fellow competitors. Sadly we add his name to the growing list of super star of the '60s who have passed on.
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