New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-11-14
VETERAN ATHLETES
Will Be HONORED
Athletic Union to Present Medals
to Old Timers at Convention

New York. Noe. II VA pic
turesque group of athletes. old in
years but young through sport. has
come to light since the National
Amateur Athletic Union announced
recently that medals would be
awarded Monday at its convention
here to the country's Oldest living
amateur athlete. amateur champion.
Olympic champion. college cham
pion and active official.
All the way from Duluth. Minn.,
the hat of an old timer named Har-
ley Davidson came sailing into the
ring when letter was received by
Daniel J. Ferris, A. A. L. secretary
treasurer. setting forth that David
son has been an energetic athletic
since 1854.
Competing on bicycles, ice skates
and roller skates. and in running,
swimming, boxing and wrestling
events, Davidson declared he has
taken part in 1860 events and still
is going strong as figure skater.
He neglected TO give his age but
added the information that in 3.039
events he has finished in first place.
For early date of origin If not for
versatility. the athletic career adj
vanced by George d. Phillips. New
York business; man. compared fav-
orably even with that of Davidson.
In the winter of 1867 Phillips won
the first amateur speed skating
championship ever held in the Unit
ed States and the medal he receiv-
ed now is on exhibition in the trc-
ply room of the New York A. C.
The race was held on a skating pond
on Fifth avenue between 46th and
47th street. now the heart of the
mid town shopping district. Phil
lips was a speed skater until 1887
when he turned to figure skating
and won several championships. re-
firing in 1897 aftc. 80 years of COM
petition. He also won so races in
rowing and number Of walking
and running events as we'll as a
tug o. war contest by way Of vari-
alton.
A leading candidate for four Of
the five awards is DR.. Graemc Ham
mond of New York, president Of the
American Olympic association. In
one Of the strangest combinations
Of athletic achievement on record
he won the intercollegiate" half mile
and quarter mile championships for
Columbia in 1877 and then when
past middle age gained a place on
the outfit teams of 1920 and 1924
as fencer.
Now more than 70 years old, DR..
keep in condition. His record quail
fies him as an entry for all the
medals but that to be awarded the
oldest living olympic champion.
In this class there are some note
worthy nominees. including Ray
Ewry. of New York. who overcame
Il handicap of poor health to COL
lect more Olympic championships
than any other one man. winning
ten standing jumping championships
at the games Of 1900, 1904. 1906 and
1905; George Orion. Philadelphia,
one of the founders of the Penn
relays. who won the steeplcchase DIT
Paris in 1900; and Robert S. Gar
rctt, of Baltimore. discus champion
at Athens in the first of the modern
Olympics in 1896.
DR.. Reginald Fl. Sayrc. of New
York. like Dr. Hammond. gained
athletic fame in two generations.
After winning the intercollegiate
walking championship in 1879. 1850
and 1851. he came back to make the
Olympic revolver shooting team VI
1872.
Others in the running for one or
another Of the medals are William
II. Purdy. New York. national walk
ing champion in 1879: Harry r.
Brooks. Intercollegiate sprint cham
pion in 1879: Harry i. Brooks. IT,
tercollegiate sprint champion AT
Yale in 1881. 1888 and 1884: Hugh
II. Baxter. national pole vault cham
pion for four straight years begin
ming in 1883 and now an active
athletic official: and Thomas +. Dc
lancy of New York. American five.
mile running champion in 1882 and
1888.
The records and ages OF the out
standing old timers will be weighed
and rewarded at the convention BAN
quet here Monday.