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Thursday, April 29, 2004 - time:  9:00 PM PDT

SUBJECT:  Olympic Tree (Letter 1)

JERRY PAPAZIAN writes: 

I just found your web  site this evening - my name is Jerry Papazian and I am a past president of U S C's Alumni Association.  I have been fascinated with the story of the 1936 Olympic trees - two of which I am sure you know were on U. S. C's campus.  And I assume you know that we lost the "Relay" tree two summer's ago.  We're working on re-dedicating a new oak tree in its place - but would love to hear about what you know about those trees.  I'm located here in LA and can be reached at the number below.

Jerry Papazian

E-Mail: jerry.papazian@fountainheadassoc.com
 

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FrankWykoff.Com Replied:

Thursday, April 29, 2004 9:09 PM PDT:

SUBJECT:  Olympic Trees

Dear Jerry ...
My husband was intrigued by your letter I just read to him.  He is also from USC, and said he has been asking his whole life where those trees were planted at USC -- (he graduated there in 1960, and no one knew in his class the location  of those trees).

We don't have the answers, but would surely be interested in any answers you may have.  His dad (Frank C. Wykoff) never spoke about those trees outside of the fact that they had been given ... or TWIGS were given as OAK TREES ... that is all my husband knew.

Would love to hear from you more on the subject if you have any written newsletters or whatever on those trees.

Dave & Terri Wykoff

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REPLY by Jerry Papazian:

Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 10:17 PM PDT

SUBJECT:  Olympic Trees (Letter 2)

I can not believe you do not know about these trees!!  One was given to Ken Carpenter and the other was given to the relay team of Owens, Metcalfe, Draper and Wykoff.  Story goes that since Owens already had four trees, he'd let the USC guys have this one.  Both were planted on campus in what is now known as Associates Park.  They were never really publicized too much - I think because of the Hitler connection.  There was a plaque under each one, dedicated by the USC Track Alumni Association - I don't know when they did it.

Unfortunately, two summers ago, the one tree for the relay team just fell over.  They called in an arborist to see what could be done, but there was nothing to do.  They called me (the amateur USC historian) and I insisted that they save a bit of the trunk. They went ahead and planted a mature oak tree of same type, and have been waiting for me to figure out what to do next.  The LA Times has promised me a story when we re-dedicate the tree - and I am thinking that since this is the 20th anniversary of the 1984 Olympics - and 2004 Athens Olympics coming up - now is the time.

You know there are only a few of these trees known to exist around the world - and maybe only 5 in the US - three I think in Ohio, one at USC, one in Pennsylvania - AND, I just learned of another one in LA today.  Sports Illustrated did an article on this 10 years ago.  Some guy at Ohio State researched this, but mostly only the Owens connection - and he may have passed away.

Do you live in LA?  Would love to give you a tour.

Here are a few links about the trees:

Olympic Oak Tree

E-Mail: jerry.papazian@fountainheadassoc.com

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Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 12:15 PM

SUBJECT:  Great Website

Contents -- Information on Coach Dean Cromwell, USC

You've done a tremendous job on your Frank Wykoff website!  As an avid track fan and historian, I am excited to find such a wealth of primary sources and other information about the track stars of the 1920's and 1930's, and later.  I especially like Dean Cromwell's analysis of the running form of Metcalf, Wykoff, and Parsons.  

I am wondering.  Do you plan on posting any video clips on your web site?  Of course, I have seen Leni Riefenstahl's footage of Wykoff anchoring the 1936 Olympic 400-meter relay time many times, but I would love to see any other clips, if you have them.

You may also be interested to know that there is a DVD now available which includes Dean Cromwell's  appearance on Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life.  I found it on a combined set that consists of 5 episodes of The Jack Benny Program and 12 episodes of You Bet Your Life.  Dean Cromwell is the first guest on Show #1.  When Groucho asks him to name some of the great athletes he has coached, he specifically mentions Charley Paddock, Frankie Wykoff, Melvin Patton, and the "Heavenly Twins" (Earl Meadows and Bill Sefton).  Cromwell also explains that he likes to tell jokes to his athletes in order to keep them relaxed, and at Groucho's urging, he proceeds to tell one.  Afterwards, Groucho predictably remarks, "a joke like that would make any man run fast--especially the man who told it!"  It's all pretty funny.  Of course, Cromwell and his partner proceed to win the big money too.

Thanks again for the great website.

Jim Muchmore

james.muchmore@wmich.edu

>>> FrankWykoff.Com replied (5-01-04) that it does not have nor has plans to post any video clips on the website.

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