Ralph Spearow

Ralph Spearow placed second in the 1922 AAU pole vault champion, and was fourth in that event in 1919. After the 1924 Olympics, Spearow went on an exhibition tour of Japan. There are reports that he vaulted higher than the listed world record, supposedly clearing 4.22, but it was never ratified and does not appear as a valid mark in current world record or American record listings. There are various reasons given, one that the uprights were in the wrong position and the mark was actually “only” 4.19, and the other that he was not given permission to vault by the AAU.

Spearow competed for the University of Oregon and the Multnomah AC. While he was a student at Oregon, Spearow served as a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove, although after graduation, he became an insurance agent.

Personal Best: PV – 4.11 (13-6) (1924).