RALPH BOSTON

Ralph Boston earned a gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics, a silver in the 1964 Melbourne Olympics and a bronze in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. His specialty was the long jump, for which he set a world's record in1960. From 1960 to 1967, Boston was ranked number one in the world in the long jump. He also was selected as a World Athlete of the Year and as the North American Athlete of the Year. He was elected into the Helms Hall of Fame in Los Angeles and was the first African-American to be inducted into Mississippi's Sports Hall of Fame. Boston's life on the corporate and civic tracks rivals the one he enjoyed on the Olympic field. After leaving Olympic sports competition in 1968, he earned his master's degree from the University of Tennessee. He served as a consultant to the U.S. Olympic team and as a sportscaster for ESPN before becoming a general partner in a Knoxville, Tenn., TV station. Boston currently is director of customer relations for Ericsson, Inc. In 1985, Boston received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for college athletes who have gone on to become successful in other areas. He also has been inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Olympic Hall of Fame, and recently was elected to the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.