Raymond Clarence Ewry (1874 - 1937)

Born 14 Oct 1874 in Lafayette, Fairfield Township, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Died 29 Sep 1937 at age 62 in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Raymond was an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Raymond Ewry is Notable.

Raymond Ewry was a Hoosier.

Paralyzed by polio at 7, yet he would go on to win 10 Olympic Gold Medals. No Olympian beat his record for a century.

Raymond Ewry was born on October 14, 1874 in Lafayette, Indiana. He was the son of George Henry Ewry and Sarah Elizabeth Smith. ^{[1] [2]} In 1879, his mother passed away. By 1880, he is found living in Lafayette with his aunt and uncle and his younger sister, Mabel. ^[3]

At the age of 7, Raymond contracted polio and was confined to a wheelchair. Determined to walk again, a doctor recommended leg exercises. He did "his exercises from the moment he woke up in the morning until the moment he fell asleep at night." ^[4] When he could stand, he strengthened his legs by jumping. ^[5]

Raymond studied engineering at Purdue University from 1890-1897, and was the captain of the track team and played football. At Purdue, he set records in the Standing High Jump and Long Jump. After he graduated, he moved to New York and joined the New York Athletic Club. There he competed in the Standing High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump. ^{[6] [7]}

Raymond competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. He won gold in the Standing High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. ^{[8] [9]} His success in the jumping events in Paris led to him being dubbed "The Human Frog". ^[4]

Raymond returned to the Summer Olympics again in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri to defend his titles in the standing jumping events. He again won 3 golds in the Standing High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. ^{[8] [9]}

Raymond made his 3rd trip to the Summer Olympics in 1906 in Athens, Greece. The Standing Triple Jump had been discontinued, so he only competed in the Standing High Jump and Long Jump. He won gold in both events. ^{[8] [9]} (Due to technalities about the Olympic scheduling, the IOC does not consider medalf from the 1906 Intercalated Games to be valid, but most historians do. ^[7]

Raymond competed in his last Summer Olympics in 1908 in London, England. He again remained the champion in the Standing High Jump and Long Jump, winning gold in both. ^{[8] [9]} With 1908, he had 8 gold medals (plus the two 1906 medals). This absolute Olympic record stood until 2008. ^[10]

After the Games, he returned to New York where he became an engineer building dams and reservoirs at the New York Board of Water Supply. ^[4] In 1901, he married Nelle Agnes Johnson, who was also from Lafayette, Indiana. They settled in Queens, NY. They had a daughter, Mary (1919-1992). He lived in Queens with his wife and daughter for the 1920, 1925, and 1930 censuses. ^{[11] [12] [13]} His wife died in 1931. ^[14] He died in Queens in 1937, ^[15] and was buried in Spring Vale Cemetery, Lafayette, Indiana.

In 1990, the US Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor. ^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #7518787
2. ↑ New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WLS-T7C : 20 March 2015), Raymond R. C. Ewry, 29 Sep 1937; citing Death, New York City, Queens, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,184,871.
3. ↑ United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHSN-X8H : 7 July 2016), Raymond C Eury in household of William Elisha, La Fayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 26, sheet 243D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0313; FHL microfilm 1,254,313.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Eric Adelson, "Ray Ewry wasn't even supposed to walk," ESPN, Aug 18, 2004.
5. ↑ Ray Ewry — Greatest Jumper in Olympic History, LUMserve (Lafayette Urban Ministry), OCTOBER 13, 2013
6. ↑ Wikipedia: Ray Ewry
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Mike Pesca, "Before Leaping To 10 Golds, Athlete Beat Polio," NPR: All Things Considered. Aired May 23, 20123:47 PM ET.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Sports Reference
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Wallechinsky, David; Loucky, Jaime. The Complete Book of The Olympics 2012 Edition. Aurum Press, London, 2012
10. ↑ Ray Ewry, Olympedia
11. ↑ United States Census, 1920," database with images, Family Search: (14 December 2015), Raymond Ewry, Queens Assembly District 4, Queens, New York, United States; citing sheet 5A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,234.
12. ↑ "New York State Census, 1925," database, Family Search: (8 November 2014), Raymond C Ewry, New York, A.D. 04, E.D. 57, Queens, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 19, line 08, New York State Archives, Albany.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch Family Search (accessed 20 April 2023), Ray C Ewry, Queens (Districts 0251-0500), Queens, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 272, sheet 1A, line 50, family 13, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1594; FHL microfilm 2,341,329.
14. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch(3 June 2020), Ray C. Ewry in entry for Nelle Agnes Johnson Ewry, 9 Aug 1931; citing Death, Queens, New York City, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,169,988.
15. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, (FamilySearch: 13 May 2022), Raymond R. C. Ewry, 1937.
16. ↑ 25c Ray Ewry single, National Postal Museum.