Roscoe Cook

Roscoe Cook, Jr. (March 2, 1939 – December 30, 2011) was an educator and held three world records in track.[1][2]

Roscoe Cook
Personal information
BornMarch 2, 1939
El Centro, California
DiedDecember 30, 2011(2011-12-30) (aged 72)
Alpharetta, Georgia
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • 100 yards: 9.3 (1959, WR)
  • 60 yards: 6.0 (1959 and 1960 WR)

Cook attended San Diego High, where he set numerous track and field records and was a member of the school's 1955 national championship football team.[1][3] He attended the University of Oregon, where he was a member of the Oregon Ducks track and field team.[3][4] In 1959 at Modesto Junior College Cook tied the world record in the 100 yards at 9.3 seconds, and in the process beat Olympic Champion Bobby Morrow and Ray Norton, who had previously run a 9.3.[3][4][5][6] He also twice tied the world record of 6.0 seconds in the 60 yards in 1959 and 1960.[3][4] In 1959 Cook was the Pacific Coast Conference champion at 100 yards (9.5 seconds) and 220 yards (21.0 seconds), and earned named an All-American for the 100 yards at the NCAA Championships.[4] In 1961 Cook won the 60-yard dash with a time of 6.1 seconds at the Los Angeles Invitational indoor meet.[7] That same year Cook earned a second All-America certificate for his fourth-place NCAA showing in the 100 yards (9.6 seconds).[4] In addition to his track accomplishments, Cook was a member of the 1959 Oregon Ducks football team.[8]

Cook graduated from Oregon with a degree in physical education, and later went on to obtain an M.A. and Ph.D in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He worked for 30 years in Los Angeles County School districts.[3]

In 2010 Cook was one of five individuals inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame.[4][9]

In 1982 Cook married Christine Pugh.[2] Roscoe Cook died on December 30, 2011.[2] He was survived by his wife, Christine V. Cook; six sisters, Sandra Kay Darden, Elaine McFadden, Rita Cook, Hanna Cook, Deborah Brown, and Jettiev Manning; and numerous nieces and nephews.[2]

References
  1. "Roscoe Cook, SD High legend, dies Dec. 30". Moving Shoes: San Diego Track Magazine. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. "In Memory Of Roscoe Cook March 2, 1939 - December 30, 2011". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. Canepa, Nick (19 May 2012). "Sharing Memories Of A San Diego High Legend In Athletics". U-T San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. "Roscoe Cook". Go Ducks. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  5. Maule, Tex (15 June 1959). "It's Agony, Upsets And Hopes". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  6. "Roscoe Cook Sensation of Track World". The Milwaukee Journal. 1 June 1959. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  7. "A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week". Sports Illustrated. 30 January 1961. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  8. Maloney, Jim (19 March 2012). "Dual Threats: Oregon Ducks Excelling In Football And Track". Fishduck.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  9. Anderson, Curtis (18 September 2010). "UO track champs walk into Hall". The Register Guard. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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