Walter B. Tewksbury (1876-1968)
Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Winner of five medals in track & field, 1900 Olympic Games in Paris (two gold, two silver, one bronze). Co-holder, world record, 100 - meter dash, 1900. Member, National Track & Field Hall of Fame and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. At the University of Pennsylvania, intercollegiate champion, 100 & 220- yard dashes, 1898 & 1899; graduated, D.D.S., 1899. Practiced dentistry, coached track & field, and was active in the Tunkhannock community.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
At the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, Tunkhannock's Walter Tewksbury turned in one of the most remarkable performances of the early modern Games, taking home five medals across track and field, including two golds and a share of the world record in the 100-meter dash. A University of Pennsylvania sprint champion, he earned a dental degree in 1899 and returned home to practice dentistry, coach, and serve his community. His name endures in both the National Track & Field and Pennsylvania Sports Halls of Fame.
Why it matters
Tewksbury's medals came at the second modern Olympiad, when American athletes helped define the young international movement and small-town competitors could stand on a world stage.
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Related people
- · Walter B. Tewksbury
Related events
- · 1900 Paris Olympic Games
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