The Washington times., 1924-02-09

not want Robertson, but Boston,
large cities which will have cha
last for him. Another great W
Meredith, one Of the greatest mic
Those behind Robertson's cause
pointed with pride to the fact that
their choice was Of inestimable value
to Mike Murphy when the late la
mented renowned trainer was taken
III before the start Of the big games
at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. Muir.
ply was a sick man before the team
sailed. On the old steamer Majestic
Murphy asked Robertson, who was
appointed assistant coach, to take
full charge, and Robby came through
with flying colors.
Again at Antwerp, in 1920, Rob.
ertson was Of great assistance to
Moakley, and each and every mem.
ber Of the squad were high in their
praise Of his labors.
Robertson worked like q beaver
to have his men prepared for the
first pistol shot at Sweden. He
went so far as to apply firSt-aid
treatment to some of the stars
forced to take to bed because Of
Sprained ankles, charley horses
and what not. In some cases Rob.
by discarded his clothes and rubbed
the kinks out Of the legs, and did
many, many numerous jobs that
even Murphy didn't know.
Only the late James e. Sullivan,
American commissioner, was taken
into the confidence Of some Of the
men Robby helped, and when the
games were finished Mr.. Sullivan
complimented the giant Scotsman on
his herculean efforts. Had he lived
there is no doubt but that Robertson
would have been his choice for the
Antwerp invasion.
Robertson was a champion sprint.
or twenty years ago. He was deVel.
0ped at the Thirteenth Regiment,
Brooklyn, and showed early promise.
His best efforts were at go and 120
yards. He made the team at st.
Louis in 1904, and scored some points
for Uncle Sam at Athens in 1906,
and London, 1908. He also repre-
gented the Irish.American, A. c., both
on the board floor and cinderpath.
When his running days were over
Robertson was signed to coach the
Winged Foot Squad. No sooner was
he delegated to the job than he
started to develop a number Of
youngsters that soon made their
mark.
Prominent among these were
AIyah Meyer, Abel Kiviat, Jim
R0senberger, and when the great
Hannes KOlehmainen came here
from Finland he decided to do
most of his training under his
watchful eye. Another man who
had great faith i'm RObby was the
late Martin Sheridan.
He also was Of great assistance
to Harry Porter, high jumper;
Claude Allen, pole vaulter; Pat Nc.
Donald and Paddy Ryan, weight
throwers; Emilio Lunghi, the Italian
middle distancer; Jim Duncan, dis
Gus thrower; Jim Crowley and Jack
Reynolds, marathoners; Frank Riley.
Billy Powers and George Bonhag,
distancers; Jack Monument helped
Mel Sheppard a great deal. Earl
Eby, Of Penn; Billy Heating, Rube
1Ou4t5 dLLO OWlA LuTCO
Sprinters. and a raft Of others.
His wonderful ability to develop
and condition athletes came to the
attention of the athletic council of
the University of Pennsylvania, and
they lost no time in engaging him.
Then he came in closer contact with
the great Meredith, the youngster
he helped condition at Stockholm
for his victory over Mel Sheppard
at eighty meters to a new worlds
record.
For Penn he won a number of
intercollegiate victories. He also
coaches the football team and helped
them gather in laurels on the grid
iron. What he doesn't know about
conditioning q man isn't worth
while.
Robertson's wit, his wonderful
personality and some other high
qualities he has stored in his six
foot one inch Of bone and muscle
make him stand out as the greatest
athletic coach since Murphy's days.
He takes as much interest in a
beginner as he does with q cham.
pion. He is wonderful teacher
and he has the magnetic powers
that must bring results.