Lest We Forget

Gaye LeBaron wrote recently about a hometown Healdsburg sports icon, Ralph Rose. You might not recall who he was--Rose was the first man to throw a shot putt 50 feet.  He went to the Olympics three times and won several medals, including gold. I had never heard of him although Healdsburg is my current home.

I do remember the first man to high jump seven feet. He competed for my first home town, Compton, and his name was Charlie Dumas. He brought home Olympic gold, too. He went on to a long career as a public school teacher.