William "Bill" Arthur Carr(October 24, 1909 – January 14, 1966) was an Americanathleteand doubleOlympicchampion in 1932.[1]Called the "Arkansas flyer," Carr never lost a race during his college and Olympic career.[2][3]
 Carr playing tennis, 1932 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Arthur Carr | |||||||||||||||||
| National team | United States | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 24, 1909 Pine Bluff, Arkansas,U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | January 14, 1966(aged 56) Tokyo,Japan | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | corporate executive | |||||||||||||||||
| Employer | Prismo Safety Products | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | outdoor track and field | |||||||||||||||||
| University team | Penn Quakers | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and education
editCarr was born and raised inPine Bluff, Arkansas.[4]His parents were Ann Holmes and William L. Carr, a traveling salesman with the Mann-Tankersley Drug Co.[1][5]He received his elementary school education at Lakeside School in Pine Bluff.[6]
He attendedPine Bluff High Schoolin 1925.[7]In his freshman year, he joined the track team because he was too small for basketball or football.[7]He demonstrated skill at jumping, but he broke both ankles leaping over a bar and had resign late in the season.[3]
Carr was recruited back to the high school track team in 1927.[1]He received national attention at the spring state meet inArkandelphiafor his record–making high jump of 6.75 feet and a long jump of 21 feet 4 inches.[1]In addition to winning those two events, he came in second at the 100-yard sprint and 220-yard sprint.[1]In a prior track meet, he had already matched the Arkansas record in the 100-yard event.[1]As a result, national sports writers were calling him the top high school track star in the United States.[1]
A local banker convinced Carr to enroll in theMercersburg AcademyinMercersburg, Pennsylvaniafor 1928 in preparation for an Ivy League college.[1][2]There, he was coached byJimmy Curran.[8]While he was at Mercersburg, they won the annual inter-scholastic track meet to become state champions.[9]Carr was the Pennsylvania champion in the 100-meter sprint, the 200-meter sprint, and the long jump, setting a state record for the latter.[1][9]He graduated from Mercersburg in the spring of 1929.[10]
Carr was recruited by theUniversity of Pennsylvaniaand started there in 1929.[1]He was on the track team and served as its co-captain.[2]At Penn, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall) and a member of theSphinx Senior Society.[2]He was president of the sophomore class and received the Golden Spoon as the "most outstanding, all-around student."[1]For three years, he received the Varsity Club scholarship "for scholastic excellence, character and athletic ability."[11]He graduated from theWharton School of the University of Pennsylvaniain 1933 with a B.S. in economics.[2]
Track and field
editAt the University of Pennsylvania, Carr was coached by 1904 OlympianLawson Robertsonwho called him "the fastest Carr in America."[12]In college, he never lost the 400-meter sprint.[1]He also anchored the 1,600-meter relay team—which also never lost a competition during his college years.[1]His favorite events became the long jump, the 440-meter, and the 800-meter.[13]
He was the 1931Amateur Athletic UnionIndoor national champion in the 300-yards event.[14]At the 1932 Intercollegiate Championships (IC4A) championships inBerkeley California,Carr beat world-record holderBen Eastmanin the 440-yard dash, winning the IC4A 440-yard title for 1932.[14][1]His time was 47.0 seconds; Eastman's record was 46.4 seconds.[1]Carr was ranked number one in the world at the 400-meters.at the end of the 1932 season.[14]
Several weeks later inPalo Alto, California,Carr again outran Eastman at the 1932 USA Outdoor Championships and1932 United States Olympic trials (track and field).[14]In addition to making the United States Olympic team, Carr was also a favorite for the 400-meter gold medal at the1932 Summer OlympicsinLos Angeles,California.[13]
On August 4, 1932 in Los Angeles Olympics, Carr placed first in his semi-final 400-meter heat with a time of 47.2 seconds, breakingEric Liddell’s world record time of 47.6 seconds from the1924 Summer Olympics.[1]However, Eastman matched Liddell’s record in his semi-final heat, setting up a final Olympic race thatThe New York Timescalled the “400-meter race of the century."[1]In the final, Eastman led during most of the race, but Carr emerged victorious in the last 100-meters with a time of 46.2 seconds.[1]He had not only won a gold medal, but he also had set a world record.[1]A few days later, Carr won another gold medal as the anchor of America's 4 × 400-meter relay team.[14]Although not scheduled to complete, he substituted for Arnold Adams who had to withdraw due to an injury.[13]They set a new world record of 3:08.2.[15]
Back at college in 1933, Carr had a "lackluster" performance in the spring season.[1]On January 25, 1933, he announced that he would retire from track after the 1933 season.[11]He said, "I expect to be a member of the United States track and field team that will tour Europe next summer. When the team returns, my uniform and spiked shoes will be put away for good."[11]He planned on retiring so that he could focus on a new career in business.[11]
World Records
edit| Event | Time | Date | Competition | Record held through | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-meter | 46.20 | August 5, 1932 | 1932 Summer Olympics | 1948 (tied) | [14][7] |
| 1,600-meter relay | 3.08.20 | August 7, 1932 | 1932 Summer Olympics | [14] |
Honors
edit- In 2008, Carr was inducted into theNational Track and Field Hall of Fame.[14]
- Carr was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1962.[2]
- Carr was selected for theSports Illustrated'sAll-Time Olympic Team in 1954.[1]
- He was selected as the number one 400-meter runner for 1925-49 byTrack & Field News'World Athletes of the Century.[14]
- The Bill Carr Memorial Room at thePine Bluff Public Libraryis named in his honor.[7]
- A statue of Carr was installed at Franklin Field of the University of Pennsylvania.[1]
- A statue was dedicated in his honor atMercersburg Preparatory Academy.[1]
- In 1932, he received a special trophy from his hometown of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[1]
Later life
editOn March 18, 1933, Carr was in a car accident that broke both his ankles and his right pelvis.[3]At the time of the two-car accident, he was standing on the car's running board.[3]He was in the hospital for four week and was not able to compete in track again.[3]He had a slight limp as a result of his injuries.[16]
In 1934, Carr started working for theInsurance Company of North America.[12]DuringWorld War II,he joined theU.S. Navy,serving as an officer in naval intelligence thePacific Theater.[2][12]While there, he met his wife, Rachel Elizabeth Manasseh, inShanghai, China.[1][12]She was a lecturer and writer about Oriental art.[12]They had one son, Alain.[12]
After the war, they lived inJapanwhere he became the Far Eastern general manager of the Insurance Company of North America.[1][12]Next, he worked forPan-American World Airwaysas the general personnel manager.[12]He became the executive director of the International Center for overseas students in Midtown, New York.[12]He then moved toTokyo, Japanwhere he was both vice president of Prismo Safety Products, a Pennsylvania highway safety and building equipment company, and the Far East representative of the Potter Brothers, a highway building equipment dealer fromNew Jersey.[12][2]
In 1966, Carr died fromcongestive heart failurein Tokyo at the age of 56.[1]He was buried in Graceland Cemetery inPine Bluff, Arkansas.[1]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabBearden, Russell E."Bill Carr (1909–1966)".Encyclopedia of Arkansas.Retrieved2022-06-05.
- ^abcdefgh"William Arthur Carr".University Archives and Records Center.University of Pennsylvania.Retrieved2022-06-05.
- ^abcde"Carr's Running Days at College Are Over"(PDF).The New York Times.March 19, 1933. p. 31.RetrievedJune 4,2022.
- ^"Carr is Buried in Simple Rights".The El Dorado Times (El Dorado, Arkansas).January 28, 1966. p. 6.RetrievedJune 4,2022– viaNewspapers.
- ^"Wm. L. Carr, of Pine Bluff, Marries Miss Holmes of Beaumont".Pine Bluff Daily Graphic(Pine Bluff, Arkansas).August 2, 1903. p. 1.RetrievedJune 5,2022– viaNewspapers.
- ^"Lakeside School".Pine Bluff Daily News (Pine Bluff, Arkansas).February 21, 1917. p. 7.RetrievedJune 4,2022– viaNewspapers.
- ^abcd"Carr Memorial Room".Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System.2021.RetrievedApril 1,2021.
- ^"Heart Attack Fells Coach".The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania).February 7, 1963. p. 1.RetrievedJune 5,2022– viaNewspapers.
- ^ab"Schoolboys Set Two New Marks".The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania).May 19, 1928. p. 1.RetrievedJune 5,2022– viaNewspapers.
- ^"Outdoor Track & Field - Boys - Varsity".Mercersburg Academy.2021-07-21.Retrieved2022-06-05.
- ^abcd"Carr Will Retire after 1933 Season"(PDF).The New York Times.January 26, 1933. p. 21.RetrievedJune 5,2022.
- ^abcdefghij"Bill Carr, Victor in 1932 Olympics"(PDF).The New York Times.January 15, 1966. p. 27.RetrievedJune 4,2022.
- ^abc"William Arthur" Bill "Carr".Sprintic magazine. 2011-07-16. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.Retrieved2022-06-05.
- ^abcdefghi"Bill Carr".USA Track & Field.Retrieved2022-06-05.
- ^Gould, Alan (AP) (August 7, 1932)."Iso-Hollo Wins Steeplechase Crown Easily".The Tuscaloosa News.RetrievedOctober 21,2015.
- ^"Bill Carr, Olympic Ace, is Peddling Insurance".Hope Star (Hope, Arkansas).March 9, 1937. p. 4.RetrievedJune 4,2022– viaNewspapers.
