Ralph Gomes

Ralph Gomes’ first major international athletics competition representing Guyana was the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where he was eliminated in the heats of the one-mile race. The following year he was seventh in the 1,500 metres at the Pan American Games, but had better luck at the Central American and Caribbean Games, where he won the 800 metres and took bronze in the 1,500 metres. His next stop was the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 800 metres and was also entered in the 1,500 metres, but did not start. His last major international competition was the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games, where he took silver in the 1,500 metres.

Gomes was much more well known, however, for his academic work. He got a bachelor’s degree from Puerto Rico’s Interamerican University, and then a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, before earning a PhD from Pennsylvania State University in 1971. He then embarked upon a nearly half-century career in Howard University’s Department of Sociology, where he specialized in African-American activism. During his tenure, he mentored over 100 graduate students and held numerous administrative appointments.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:50.6 (1960).