The Day "Bullet" Bob Hayes Returned as Olympic Champion

[urbanlibertarian]

From the FL Times-Union:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-14/story/look-back-day-bullet-bob-hayes-came-home-olympic-champion

By Jessie-Lynne Kerr

I can remember it as if it were yesterday. Joe Livingston, who did public relations for the city, came into the newsroom on the fourth floor of The Florida Times-Union building at 400 W. Adams St. with a release that said in two hours, the city parks and recreation department along with the Florida A&M band would stage a parade downtown to welcome home Bob Hayes.

The Matthew Gilbert High School and Florida A&M football and track athlete was to be welcomed home from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan, where he won two gold medals.

Executive Editor John S. Walters happened to be in his office and I took Livingston's release in to him. After glancing at it, Walters told me to put it in the Star Edition's mailbox.

The Times-Union started the Star Edition on Jan. 1, 1950, to report on "news for and about the colored people." It was distributed to the city's African-American readers.

The Star staff, headed by Editor Uriah Portee, included Gertrude Peele, Vivian Hicks, Beulah McClellan and Cecil Fisher.

I was from New York City and had only been on the staff since the previous March, but I took exception to Walters' directive. The Star reporters did not work on Saturday and unless we covered the parade, it would not be reported.

"I don't care if Hayes is black, white or purple with orange spots," I sassily told Walters. "I don't know of anyone else coming home to Jacksonville with two gold Olympic medals."

Walters looked at me and said, "Get a photographer and go cover it."

Thus began the reporting of the first non-criminal news about blacks to appear in the lily-white Times-Union, with the exception of the annual United Negro College Fund campaign because it was sponsored by the Davis brothers of Winn-Dixie fame, huge advertisers.

I wrote that "the shy hero waved and smiled while thousands cheered and a thousand feet stepped smartly in his honor."

Only the day before, that reaction had been accorded to Santa Claus.

The Florida A&M parade honoring Hayes was described by one person on the reviewing stand in front of the Post Office Building as one of "the biggest parades Jacksonville has ever seen."

The Jacksonville Naval Air Station band led off, but the parade really got into full swing when the renowned Florida A&M band passed.

With the pace set by the high-stepping drum majors, the 140-piece marching band drew cheers as it thrilled the crowd with its precision playing and marching.

Hayes' open convertible was preceded by an Olympic flag bearer.

The man of the hour sat perched atop the back seat and appeared almost to be bashful. Two gold medals hung around his neck.

His proud and attractive mother, who traveled to Japan to witness her son's performances, proclaimed as "the world's fastest human," waved to her cheering friends from the front seat.

Although it rained shortly after the parade, a bright sun beat down upon the marchers with a 74-degree temperature.

The coolest of the marchers appeared to be scholastic queens. There was Miss Florida A&M; Miss Texas Southern; Miss Matthew W. Gilbert; Miss Edward Waters College; Miss Northwestern; Miss Douglas Anderson; and Miss New Stanton.

Attired in formal gowns and tiaras, the young ladies rode on floats or in automobiles attended by members of their courts.

But the girls' sparkle was outdone by the gleaming gold medals Hayes wore around his neck and over his Olympic jacket. He donned another outfit that night, the football uniform of Florida A&M to join his teammates against Texas Southern in the Gator Bowl.

As I recall, since the Times-Union covered Hayes' welcome home parade, the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce threw him a luncheon at the Robert Meyer Hotel.

The publisher of an alternative weekly, Sam Melson, formerly with the Associated Press, wrote that "some T-U subscribers barfed."

Through the decades, the Bob Hayes Track and Field Meet draws more than 3,000 athletes from throughout the United States, Canada and the Virgin Islands. It is known as the largest one-day high school track and field event in the United States, receiving international news coverage.

Events will kick off today with a workshop and dinner.

jessie-lynne.kerr@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4374

I was 7 at the time and still remember what a huge deal this was for the whole city.  After this we also followed his career in the NFL with the Cowboys.  He helped revolutionize the pro passing game.