Ralph A. Hill, died Monday, Oct. 17, 1994, in Klamath Falls at age 85.
He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and moved to Klamath Falls with his parents at age 4. He attneded school at Henley and graduated from University of Oregon, Eugene, in 1931 with a degree in business administration.
During the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, Calif., he placed second in the 5,000 meters run, winning the silver meda.
Mr. Hill farmed in the Henley area from the time he graduated from college until his retirement in 1980. He contracted polio in 1953, which left his right arm unusable, but he operated his farm machinery with his left hand.
He married Lois Dixon in 1933, who died in 1953. In 1960, he married Betty Hromada, who preceded him in death in 1984.
Mr. Hill enjoyed running and helped organize many track meets and assist at them. He was a member of Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church and enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports activities.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanie and Gerald Arant, Klamath Falls; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard and Joan Hill, Ashland; son, Dr. Robert Hill, Creswell; grandchildren, Lois, Sharon, Russell, Leslie, Lonnie, Mark, Margaret, Amber, Brian and Melissa; great-grandchildren, Rachel, Nicole, Tyler, Desiree, Andrea, Stacey, Jaimi, Steven, Stephanie, Whitney, Dakota, Jordon, Ryan and Miranda.
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Ralph Hill, who grew up in the Henley community, was credited with being the first Oregonian to garner widespread attention as a distance runner – and the first Klamath resident to gain worldwide name recognition. As a runner at the University of Oregon in 1930, he set a national record in the mile with a time of 4:12.2.
Hill went on to compete in the 5,000-meter run in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hill placed second in a race that ended with one of the most controversial finishes in Olympic history. Near the end of the race Hill was running closely behind Finland's Lauri Leheinen. As Hill attempted to pass, Leheinen crossed into his path at least three times, according to newspaper reports.
Judges deliberated for more than an hour before announcing that the gold medal would go to Leheinen, and the silver to Hill. Both runners were clocked with the same time of 14:30, but Leheinen's chest broke the tape with Hill behind by only a few inches.
Hill declined to register a protest, saying he did not think Leheinen's actions were intentional. American team officials also declined to protest, though they made their displeasure clear. "Although the (Amateur Athletic Union) considers the race was not fairly run, neither Mr. Hill nor the United States will protest," said AAU President Avery Brundage.
About 1,000 people greeted Hill when he arrived at the Klamath Falls train station on Aug. 15, 1932. Even more gathered at the Pelican Theater for a formal welcoming ceremony.
Hill met Leheinen for a rematch soon afterward at a post-Olympic meet in Chicago. Leheinen dropped out early, while Hill placed a close second behind Jan Kusocinski of Poland in that race on Aug. 18, 1932.
After earning a degree in business administration, Hill returned to Henley and spent his life farming. He contracted polio and lost use of his right arm, but continued working. He died Oct. 17, 1994, at the age of 85, and is buried at Mt. Laki Cemetery south of Klamath Falls.
∼KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) Ralph Hill, an Olympic distance runner and silver metalist, died Monday. He was 85. David Lowell Ladd
He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and moved to Klamath Falls with his parents at age 4. He attneded school at Henley and graduated from University of Oregon, Eugene, in 1931 with a degree in business administration.
During the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, Calif., he placed second in the 5,000 meters run, winning the silver meda.
Mr. Hill farmed in the Henley area from the time he graduated from college until his retirement in 1980. He contracted polio in 1953, which left his right arm unusable, but he operated his farm machinery with his left hand.
He married Lois Dixon in 1933, who died in 1953. In 1960, he married Betty Hromada, who preceded him in death in 1984.
Mr. Hill enjoyed running and helped organize many track meets and assist at them. He was a member of Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church and enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports activities.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanie and Gerald Arant, Klamath Falls; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard and Joan Hill, Ashland; son, Dr. Robert Hill, Creswell; grandchildren, Lois, Sharon, Russell, Leslie, Lonnie, Mark, Margaret, Amber, Brian and Melissa; great-grandchildren, Rachel, Nicole, Tyler, Desiree, Andrea, Stacey, Jaimi, Steven, Stephanie, Whitney, Dakota, Jordon, Ryan and Miranda.
************************
Ralph Hill, who grew up in the Henley community, was credited with being the first Oregonian to garner widespread attention as a distance runner – and the first Klamath resident to gain worldwide name recognition. As a runner at the University of Oregon in 1930, he set a national record in the mile with a time of 4:12.2.
Hill went on to compete in the 5,000-meter run in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hill placed second in a race that ended with one of the most controversial finishes in Olympic history. Near the end of the race Hill was running closely behind Finland's Lauri Leheinen. As Hill attempted to pass, Leheinen crossed into his path at least three times, according to newspaper reports.
Judges deliberated for more than an hour before announcing that the gold medal would go to Leheinen, and the silver to Hill. Both runners were clocked with the same time of 14:30, but Leheinen's chest broke the tape with Hill behind by only a few inches.
Hill declined to register a protest, saying he did not think Leheinen's actions were intentional. American team officials also declined to protest, though they made their displeasure clear. "Although the (Amateur Athletic Union) considers the race was not fairly run, neither Mr. Hill nor the United States will protest," said AAU President Avery Brundage.
About 1,000 people greeted Hill when he arrived at the Klamath Falls train station on Aug. 15, 1932. Even more gathered at the Pelican Theater for a formal welcoming ceremony.
Hill met Leheinen for a rematch soon afterward at a post-Olympic meet in Chicago. Leheinen dropped out early, while Hill placed a close second behind Jan Kusocinski of Poland in that race on Aug. 18, 1932.
After earning a degree in business administration, Hill returned to Henley and spent his life farming. He contracted polio and lost use of his right arm, but continued working. He died Oct. 17, 1994, at the age of 85, and is buried at Mt. Laki Cemetery south of Klamath Falls.
∼KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) Ralph Hill, an Olympic distance runner and silver metalist, died Monday. He was 85. David Lowell Ladd
Ralph A. Hill, died Monday, Oct. 17, 1994, in Klamath Falls at age 85.
He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and moved to Klamath Falls with his parents at age 4. He attneded school at Henley and graduated from University of Oregon, Eugene, in 1931 with a degree in business administration.
During the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, Calif., he placed second in the 5,000 meters run, winning the silver meda.
Mr. Hill farmed in the Henley area from the time he graduated from college until his retirement in 1980. He contracted polio in 1953, which left his right arm unusable, but he operated his farm machinery with his left hand.
He married Lois Dixon in 1933, who died in 1953. In 1960, he married Betty Hromada, who preceded him in death in 1984.
Mr. Hill enjoyed running and helped organize many track meets and assist at them. He was a member of Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church and enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports activities.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanie and Gerald Arant, Klamath Falls; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard and Joan Hill, Ashland; son, Dr. Robert Hill, Creswell; grandchildren, Lois, Sharon, Russell, Leslie, Lonnie, Mark, Margaret, Amber, Brian and Melissa; great-grandchildren, Rachel, Nicole, Tyler, Desiree, Andrea, Stacey, Jaimi, Steven, Stephanie, Whitney, Dakota, Jordon, Ryan and Miranda.
************************
Ralph Hill, who grew up in the Henley community, was credited with being the first Oregonian to garner widespread attention as a distance runner – and the first Klamath resident to gain worldwide name recognition. As a runner at the University of Oregon in 1930, he set a national record in the mile with a time of 4:12.2.
Hill went on to compete in the 5,000-meter run in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hill placed second in a race that ended with one of the most controversial finishes in Olympic history. Near the end of the race Hill was running closely behind Finland's Lauri Leheinen. As Hill attempted to pass, Leheinen crossed into his path at least three times, according to newspaper reports.
Judges deliberated for more than an hour before announcing that the gold medal would go to Leheinen, and the silver to Hill. Both runners were clocked with the same time of 14:30, but Leheinen's chest broke the tape with Hill behind by only a few inches.
Hill declined to register a protest, saying he did not think Leheinen's actions were intentional. American team officials also declined to protest, though they made their displeasure clear. "Although the (Amateur Athletic Union) considers the race was not fairly run, neither Mr. Hill nor the United States will protest," said AAU President Avery Brundage.
About 1,000 people greeted Hill when he arrived at the Klamath Falls train station on Aug. 15, 1932. Even more gathered at the Pelican Theater for a formal welcoming ceremony.
Hill met Leheinen for a rematch soon afterward at a post-Olympic meet in Chicago. Leheinen dropped out early, while Hill placed a close second behind Jan Kusocinski of Poland in that race on Aug. 18, 1932.
After earning a degree in business administration, Hill returned to Henley and spent his life farming. He contracted polio and lost use of his right arm, but continued working. He died Oct. 17, 1994, at the age of 85, and is buried at Mt. Laki Cemetery south of Klamath Falls.
∼KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) Ralph Hill, an Olympic distance runner and silver metalist, died Monday. He was 85. David Lowell Ladd
He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and moved to Klamath Falls with his parents at age 4. He attneded school at Henley and graduated from University of Oregon, Eugene, in 1931 with a degree in business administration.
During the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, Calif., he placed second in the 5,000 meters run, winning the silver meda.
Mr. Hill farmed in the Henley area from the time he graduated from college until his retirement in 1980. He contracted polio in 1953, which left his right arm unusable, but he operated his farm machinery with his left hand.
He married Lois Dixon in 1933, who died in 1953. In 1960, he married Betty Hromada, who preceded him in death in 1984.
Mr. Hill enjoyed running and helped organize many track meets and assist at them. He was a member of Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church and enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports activities.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanie and Gerald Arant, Klamath Falls; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard and Joan Hill, Ashland; son, Dr. Robert Hill, Creswell; grandchildren, Lois, Sharon, Russell, Leslie, Lonnie, Mark, Margaret, Amber, Brian and Melissa; great-grandchildren, Rachel, Nicole, Tyler, Desiree, Andrea, Stacey, Jaimi, Steven, Stephanie, Whitney, Dakota, Jordon, Ryan and Miranda.
************************
Ralph Hill, who grew up in the Henley community, was credited with being the first Oregonian to garner widespread attention as a distance runner – and the first Klamath resident to gain worldwide name recognition. As a runner at the University of Oregon in 1930, he set a national record in the mile with a time of 4:12.2.
Hill went on to compete in the 5,000-meter run in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hill placed second in a race that ended with one of the most controversial finishes in Olympic history. Near the end of the race Hill was running closely behind Finland's Lauri Leheinen. As Hill attempted to pass, Leheinen crossed into his path at least three times, according to newspaper reports.
Judges deliberated for more than an hour before announcing that the gold medal would go to Leheinen, and the silver to Hill. Both runners were clocked with the same time of 14:30, but Leheinen's chest broke the tape with Hill behind by only a few inches.
Hill declined to register a protest, saying he did not think Leheinen's actions were intentional. American team officials also declined to protest, though they made their displeasure clear. "Although the (Amateur Athletic Union) considers the race was not fairly run, neither Mr. Hill nor the United States will protest," said AAU President Avery Brundage.
About 1,000 people greeted Hill when he arrived at the Klamath Falls train station on Aug. 15, 1932. Even more gathered at the Pelican Theater for a formal welcoming ceremony.
Hill met Leheinen for a rematch soon afterward at a post-Olympic meet in Chicago. Leheinen dropped out early, while Hill placed a close second behind Jan Kusocinski of Poland in that race on Aug. 18, 1932.
After earning a degree in business administration, Hill returned to Henley and spent his life farming. He contracted polio and lost use of his right arm, but continued working. He died Oct. 17, 1994, at the age of 85, and is buried at Mt. Laki Cemetery south of Klamath Falls.
∼KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) Ralph Hill, an Olympic distance runner and silver metalist, died Monday. He was 85. David Lowell Ladd
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