Dick Barber Explained

Richard Alvah Barber (July 24, 1910 – May 22, 1983)^[1] was an American long jumper. Barber won the long jump at the 1932 United States Olympic Trials and qualified for the 1932 Summer Olympics, where he played fifth. He was IC4A long jump champion in 1931 and 1932.

Career

Barber became a successful long jumper at Long Beach Polytechnic High School,^[2] winning the 1928 California state high school championship with a meeting record jump of 23 ft  in (7.14 m).^[3] After graduating from high school he entered the University of Southern California, where he was coached by Dean Cromwell.^[4] In 1929, his freshman year, he placed fourth at the national championships with a jump of 23 ft  in (7.15 m)^[5] and won the national junior title.^{[6] [7]} He was one of the favorites at the 1930 IC4A championships,^[8] but failed to qualify for the final.^[9] At the other major collegiate meet of the year, the NCAA championships, Barber placed third behind Ed Gordon and Ed Hamm with a jump of 24 ft  in (7.37 m).^{[10] [11]} USC Trojans were team champions in both meets.^{[12] [13]}

Barber won the 1931 IC4A long jump title with a leap of 25 ft  in (7.71 m), which was a new meeting record; USC successfully defended its team title in a close battle against Stanford.^[14] At the NCAA meet Barber only jumped 24 ft  in (7.55 m) and placed third behind Gordon and Lamoine Boyle,^[11] but he was still named the top collegiate All-American.^[15] Barber injured his leg in a minor meet in March 1932 and missed the early part of the 1932 season,^{[16] [17]} but returned in top form and jumped 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m) in Fresno on May 14.^{[18] [19]} USC did not compete in the 1932 NCAA meet,^[20] but both the Trojans as a team and Barber individually successfully defended their IC4A titles.^[21]

At the 1932 Olympic Trials, Barber only placed seventh in the qualification, and normally only the top five qualified for the final.^{[22] [23]} However, at the last moment the United States Olympic Committee decided to allow eight finalists instead of five;^{[23] [24]} Barber thus qualified for the final, and jumped his personal best, 25 ft  in (7.73 m), to win the trials ahead of Gordon and Lambert Redd.^{[22] [23]} Although the Trials doubled as the AAU (national) championships, Barber is not considered the 1932 AAU champion as the rule change only applied to the Trials and he would not have been a finalist under AAU rules; instead, Gordon became the national champion.^[24] As Trials champion, Barber was one of the favorites for the Olympics in Los Angeles,^[25] but in the Olympic final he only reached 24 ft 3 in (7.39 m) and placed fifth.^{[1] [23]}

In addition to long jumping, Barber played for the Trojans football team starting in late 1931, and was a member of the 1931 and 1932 national championship teams.^[26]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dick Barber Bio, Stats and Results . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418074544/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/dick-barber-1.html . dead . April 18, 2020 . December 8, 2014 . Sports Reference LLC.
2. News: Long Beach Track: 1907–1964 . . June 14, 1964 . December 8, 2014.
3. News: Past, Present Stars in L.B. Track Hall of Fame . March 30, 1958 . December 8, 2014 . Press-Telegram.
4. News: Dean Cromwell, Track Coach Known As Maker of Champs. Van Nuys News . April 12, 1934 . December 8, 2014 .
5. News: Michigan Star Takes Sprint Honors at Denver Meet . . July 5, 1929 . December 8, 2014 . Frawley, Frank H. (Associated Press).
6. News: New Records Turned In By Athletes in Junior Compet; Alf 220 Winner . . July 4, 1929 . December 8, 2014.
7. News: Trojans Are Favored In IC4A Classic . May 21, 1930 . December 8, 2014 . The Wisconsin State Journal.
8. News: America's College Olympics . . Paddock, Charles W. . May 25, 1930 . December 8, 2014.
9. News: Kenneth Churchill Sets U. S. College Record In Javelin Throw In East . May 31, 1930 . December 8, 2014 . Berkeley Daily Gazette.
10. News: Wykoff, Trojan Dash Star, Now 'Fastest Human' . June 9, 1930 . December 8, 2014 . Berkeley Daily Gazette.
11. A History of the NCAA Championships: Men's Long Jump . Hill, E. Garry . . December 8, 2014 .
12. News: Trojans Take Annual Meet With Ease . Demby, Bert . . June 8, 1930 . December 8, 2014.
13. News: Trojans Beat Stanford For Track Victory . . June 1, 1930 . December 8, 2014 .
14. News: Trojans Victorious in Philadelphia Championships.. May 31, 1931 . December 8, 2014 . Nevada State Journal.
15. News: Pick Churchill All-U.S. Track Team Member . June 8, 1931 . December 8, 2014 . Berkeley Daily Gazette . Kirksey, George.
16. News: Record Holder Hurt At Long Beach Meet . . March 8, 1932 . December 8, 2014.
17. News: Cromwell to Take 40 Trojans North . March 26, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . San Mateo Times.
18. News: The Spotlight on Sports . . May 20, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . Jensen, Ray.
19. News: Dyer Proves Real Threat For Olympics . May 16, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . . Kullmann, Len.
20. A History of the NCAA Championships: Men's 100 Meters . December 8, 2014 . Hill, E. Garry . Track & Field News .
21. News: Southern California Captures Fifth I. C. 4-A. Track Crown. . July 3, 1932 . December 8, 2014 .
22. News: Stars Brilliant As U.S. Selects Its Track Team . July 17, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . The Tuscaloosa News.
23. Web site: The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field . PDF . Hymans, Richard . USA Track & Field

    Track & Field News

    . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130524034523/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1152 . May 24, 2013 . dead .
24. News: Entries Selected for American Track Team . July 18, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . Gould, Alan . Florence Morning News.
25. News: United States Has Lead In Field Sports, Avows Gould . July 27, 1932 . December 8, 2014 . Gould, Alan . The Spartanburg Herald.
26. News: U.S. Broad Jump Champ Is Trojan Varsity Fullback . Cohn, Art . . October 5, 1932 . December 8, 2014.