Ralph Hammonds

Ralph Hammonds was a versatile athlete at the University of Texas, a pole vaulter on the track team and a wrestler. He was Southwest Conference champion in the pole vault and finished tied for second at the 1927 NCAA Championships. Hammonds was AAU Champion in 1925-26 as a wrestler, and competed in the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928, where he placed second to George Rule of Oklahoma A&M. At the 1928 Olympic Trials, however, Hammonds went undefeated to earn his trip to Amsterdam, making him the first Olympian from the University of Texas.

Hammonds later wrestled professionally for a few years, but then became a sports promoter, in wrestling, golf, and fishing tournaments. He was instrumental in bringing the 1946 AAU Championships to San Antonio, the first major national championship to be held in Texas.