Name: Ralph Boston
Sport: Track and Field
Event(s): Long Jump
DOB: 5/9/1939
Birthplace: Laurel, Miss.
Hometown: Laurel, Miss.
High School: Oak Park High School (Laurel, Miss.)
College: Tennessee State University
Olympic Experience
- Three-time Olympian (1960, 1964, 1968); three-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Rome 1960, gold (long jump)
- Tokyo 1964, silver (long jump)
- Mexico City 1968, bronze (long jump)
Personal:
Son of Peter and Eulalia Boston...Youngest of 10 children...Became interested in athletics after watching his older brother, Peter, excel...Attended Oak Park High School in Laurel, where he participated in football and track among other sports...Set a national high school record in the 180-yard low hurdles event in 1956...Broke the world record in long jump during the U.S. Olympic Trials prior to the Olympic Games Rome 1960...Served as an administrator at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville following his athletic career...Advised the African American Student Liberation Force organization at UT, and chaired the Tony Wilson Memorial Fund...Served as a sportscaster with Marvin Sugarman Productions and ESPN...Inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame...Was the first African American inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.