Bobby gripped the steering wheel and held the car tight to the narrow road. On his right, snake-like rows of cotton, once farmed by his family, flashed by. He didn't seem to notice. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, as if on some distant finish line.
"I never did struggle to run," he said. "It was a relaxed feeling for me. It was always natural. I was a poor starter, though. I was always behind at the start."
The name Bobby Morrow will not mean anything to most of my readers. But to the sports world of the mid-1950s his name was a high profile name.
In 1956 at the age of 20, Bobby Morrow won three Gold Medals for the United States at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. He ran the 100 meter in 10.5 seconds, took the 200 meter in an Olympic record of 20.6 seconds, and anchored a world-record 400 meter relay of 39.5 seconds. His three Gold Medals were the most any man had won in track and field since Jesse Owens took four at Berlinin 1936.
Bobby Morrow was a member of the church of Christand an outstanding student athlete at AbileneChristian College (now University) in Abilene, Texas. Bobby returned to Abilene from Melbourne a hero. Don Morris, president of the college, called him a "conquering hero." Four years later—in 1960—still in his prime, Bobby was snubbed for the Olympics inRome. He was stunned. So was his A. C. C. coach, Oliver Jackson. Jackson never asked for an explanation. Neither did Bobby. Never a romantic about his ability, Bobby simply quit. He never ran again.
Bobby Morrow's story was detailed in a major article in the Dallas Morning News in July 1990. I was living in Dallas at the time and read the story with great interest. The details set out above, as well as some of the verbiage, are taken from the story. I was a student at Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson,Tennessee in 1956 when Bobby won those three Gold Medals in Melbourne. On Sundays I would go out to preach in country and small town churches—places like Broadmoor, Bakerville, Dyer, New Providence, Yorkville, and Humboldt. I had a sermon on "The Christian Race" that I especially enjoyed preaching. And I used Bobby Morrow as an example of what it takes to be a winner—physically and spiritually.
When the story came out in the Dallas Morning News in 1990, I prepared and presented another sermon, giving it the title of this essay. I have preached it a couple of times since. It was/is designed to encourage those who once were running the Christian race but have dropped out to re-enter the race. Sadly, there are many who have become "drop outs." But they need to know that forgiveness is available, that restoration is possible, that renewal of spiritual vitality is accessible, and that a new start is possible.
By his own admission, Bobby Morrow was a terrible starter. "I was always behind at the start." But as Oliver Jackson his coach said: "He had that second gear. He could float. About the last quarter of the race, he'd turn it on. He was poetry." His former wife, Jo Ann, now married to a former Abilene Christian classmate—himself a track coach—said of Bobby: "I've seen a lot of track in my lifetime, but I've never seen a runner as pretty as Bobby," allowing herself a moment to enjoy the memory.
"Therefore, seeing we also are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Speaking Schedule:
September 2: Bethlehem Church of Christ, Lebanon, TN (all services)
September 5: Bethlehem Church of Christ, Lebanon, TN
September 9: LaGuardo Church of Christ, Mount Juliet, TN (a.m. only)
Hugh Fulford
August 21, 2012
this is good!
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