View source for Glenn Morris

{{Short description|American track and field athlete (1912–1974)}}
{{about|a U.S. track and field athlete|the British footballer|Glenn Morris (footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = 
| full_name = Glenn Edgar Morris
| nickname = 
| image = Glenn Morris and Leni Riefenstahl 1936.jpg
| image_size = 210
| caption = <!--Glenn-->Morris and [[Leni Riefenstahl]] in [[Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|1936]]
| birth_date = June 18, 1912
| birth_place = [[Simla, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date = January 31, 1974 <br/> (aged 61)
| death_place = [[Palo Alto, California]], U.S.
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|84|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| sport = Athletics
| event = [[Decathlon]]
| club = Denver Athletic Club
| pb = 100 m – 10.6 (1936)<br>400 m – 49.4 (1936)<br>110 mH – 14.6 (1936)<br>400 mH – 544 (1934)<br>LJ – 6.97 m (1936)<br>SP – 14.45 m (1936)<br>DT – 43.10 m (1936)<br>JT – 56.06 m (1936)<br>Decathlon – 7254 (1936)<ref name=r1/><ref name=r4/>
| alma_mater = [[Colorado State University|Colorado State]]
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Berlin]] | [[Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]}}
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
|allegiance   = {{USA}}
|branch       = {{flag|United States Navy}}
|rank         = <!-- [[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] -->
|battles      = [[World War II]]
|unit         = [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]]
|serviceyears = <!-- 1942–1945 -->
|awards       = 
}}
}}

'''Glenn Edgar Morris''' (June 18, 1912 – January 31, 1974) was a [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[track and field]] [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]]. He won a [[gold medal]] in the Olympic [[decathlon]] in [[Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|1936]], setting new world and Olympic records.<ref name=doria/> He attended Colorado A&M — now known as [[Colorado State University]] — and played [[American football|football]] as well as [[track and field]]. He was also an occasional actor, he portrayed [[Tarzan]] in ''[[Tarzan's Revenge]]''.

==Biography==
Born on his family's homestead farm near [[Simla, Colorado]], Morris was the second of seven children. A natural athlete whose record in the {{convert|220|yd|0|adj=on}} hurdles stood for forty years at his high school, Morris entered Colorado Agricultural College (now [[Colorado State University]]) at [[Fort Collins, Colorado|Fort Collins]] in 1930, and became a star athlete, excelling in several sports and being named [[All-America]]n in track and field. Working as an assistant coach and automobile salesman after graduation in 1934 (with degrees in economics and sociology),<ref name=r2>''Do You Know About—Former Athlete Glenn Morris'', Colorado State University Athletics News, February 4, 2009</ref> Morris began training as a decathlon athlete in hopes of competing in the 1936 Olympics.<ref name=doria/>

In the [[1936 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic track and field trials]] in [[Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936]], Morris scored a new world record of 7,880 points, earning him [[Newsweek]]'s sobriquet "the nation's new Iron Man." Morris broke his own world record, and the Olympic record, in the [[1936 Summer Olympics|Berlin games]], with a decathlon score of 7,900 points.<ref name=doria/> It was said that [[Adolf Hitler]] never left his seat while Morris was competing, and that the [[Germany|Germans]] thereafter offered Morris $50,000 to stay in Germany and appear in sports films, an offer Morris refused.<ref name=r2/>

German [[Film director|filmmaker]] and [[Documentary film|documentarian]] [[Leni Riefenstahl]] {{nowrap|(1902–2003)}} claimed in her memoirs that during and after the 1936 Olympics, she had an affair with Morris, which she ended because of a very disparaging report about him that was given to her by a [[graphology|graphologist]].<ref>Riefenstahl, p. 200</ref> Riefenstahl also claimed that the affair began when, after winning the [[gold medal]], he tore off her blouse and kissed her breasts, in front of the audience of 100,000 people.<ref>Riefenstahl, p. 196</ref> In reality, Morris merely received his medal and laurel from Hitler's mistress [[Eva Braun]] in an otherwise standard ceremony.<ref name=chapman>Chapman, Mike (2003) ''The Gold and the Glory: The Amazing True Story of Glenn Morris, Olympic Champion and Movie Tarzan''. Culture House Books</ref>  Part two of Riefenstahl's film ''[[Olympia (1938 film)|Olympia]]'' included a segment documenting Morris's decathlon triumph.

Morris' success at the 1936 Olympics resulted in a brief flurry of fame, including a [[New York City]] ticker-tape parade and a statewide Colorado celebration. He received the 1936 [[James E. Sullivan Award]] as the top amateur athlete in the United States, and he had a short stint as an [[NBC]] radio commentator.<ref name=r1/><ref name=doria>Doria, Richard Paul Jr. (1980) ''A Brief History of the American Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalists—Traits and Characteristics: 1912–1976'', Western Illinois University.</ref>

In November 1937, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] released the ten-minute short film ''Decathlon Champion: The Story of Glenn Morris'', depicting how he trained for and won the decathlon event. Morris portrayed himself in the film, before becoming the fourth Olympic athlete to play [[Tarzan]]. He appeared in only one Tarzan film, ''[[Tarzan's Revenge]]'' (1938), an inexpensive independent film produced by [[Sol Lesser]] and released by [[Twentieth Century Fox]]. Reviews for the film cited both the silliness of the production and the exaggerated acting of the theatrically untrained Morris (though Variety called him "a highly acceptable Tarzan").<ref>''Variety'', January 1, 1938.</ref> After only one minor additional film role, in the 1938 comedy ''[[Hold That Co-Ed]]'', Morris left the movie business forever.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Morris played four games with the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) in [[1940 Detroit Lions season|1940]] before injury curtailed this new career,<ref name=chapman/><ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrGl20.htm Glenn Morris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918163833/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrGl20.htm |date=September 18, 2018 }}. pro-football-reference.com. Accessed June 29, 2023.</ref> then worked as an insurance agent.<ref>Webber, Ken. ''Glenn Morris: Colorado's Tarzan Recalled''. ERBmania!, 2000.</ref>

During [[World War II]], he served as an [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] and was stationed in [[Pacific War|the Pacific]], commanding amphibious-assault [[landing craft]].<ref name=chapman/> Reportedly wounded, Morris was treated for [[PTSD|psychological-trauma]] issues and spent several months in a naval hospital.<ref name=doria/>

==Later life==
Following his release from duty, Morris worked for a dozen years in construction and as a steel rigger for the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]]. Subsequently, he may have worked off and on as a parking lot attendant, and he was rumored to have been an alcoholic.<ref name=doria/> He lived out his last years mostly in [[Menlo Park, California]], and as a patient in [[Veterans Health Administration|veterans hospitals]]. Too ill to attend his induction into the [[Colorado Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1967, where he was proclaimed "the world's greatest athlete," Morris nevertheless donated his Olympic gold medal to the Hall.<ref name=doria/> The medal was subsequently given, along with Morris's other memorabilia, to Simla High School, which gives an annual Glenn Morris Award for athletic and academic excellence;<ref name=chapman/> the school, in turn, donated the medal in April 2011 to Colorado State University, the successor to Morris' college alma mater, where it is displayed in the Iris and Michael Smith Alumni Building.<ref>Gilbert, Zak. CSU dedicates Glenn Morris Field House. Colorado State University. April 24, 2011. URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20110426123458/http://www.csurams.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/042211aaa.html Accessed: 2011-04-24.</ref><ref name=csugfh>{{cite news|url=https://csurams.com/facilities/?id=5 |publisher=Colorado State University |title=Glenn Morris Fieldhouse |access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

At age 61 in 1974, Morris died of congestive heart failure "and other complications" at the veterans' hospital in [[Palo Alto, California]],<ref name=xtrzap>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a5JYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5200%2C82451 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Ex-Tarzan dead at 62 |date=February 1, 1974 |page=15 |access-date=August 24, 2020 |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730073831/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a5JYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5200,82451 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was buried in [[Skylawn Memorial Park (San Mateo, California)|Skylawn Memorial Park]] in nearby [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]].<ref>Douglas County (Colorado) News-Register, February 3, 1974</ref>

He was married from 1937 to 1940 to Charlotte Edwards, whom he had met in college.<ref name=doria/><ref name=chapman/>

==Books==
* In 2003, author Mike Chapman wrote “The Gold and The Glory: The Amazing True Story of Glenn Morris, Olympic Champion and Movie Tarzan”. The foreword was written by Bob Mathias, Olympic decathlon champion in 1948 and 1952, and the book has over 120 photos, ranging from Morris's high school days up through college, the Olympics, Hollywood, and his service as a Naval officer in [[World War II]].<ref name=chapman/>
* A 2013 novel ''Olympic Affair'' was published by Terry Frei in which he depicts the life of Morris, and Frei imagines what the affair with [[Leni Riefenstahl]] was like.<ref name=gzdzzy>{{cite news |url=https://gazette.com/sports/simla-olympic-decathlon-champ-glenn-morris-reached-dizzying-heights-before/article_7b2a246e-b5bb-5bc4-aaa9-c8e25b70f62e.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |last=Ramsey |first=David |title=Simla 1936 Olympic decathlon champ Glenn Morris reached dizzying heights before fall |date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322012615/https://gazette.com/sports/simla-olympic-decathlon-champ-glenn-morris-reached-dizzying-heights-before/article_7b2a246e-b5bb-5bc4-aaa9-c8e25b70f62e.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=tfdpds>{{cite news |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2012/08/05/terry-frei-dark-secret-from-berlin-olympics-haunted-glenn-morris/ |work=Denver Post |last=Frei |first=Terry |title=Dark secret from Berlin Olympics haunted Glenn Morris |date=August 5, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322012611/https://www.denverpost.com/2012/08/05/terry-frei-dark-secret-from-berlin-olympics-haunted-glenn-morris/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=r1>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mo/glenn-morris-1.html Glenn Morris] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001000049/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mo/glenn-morris-1.html |date=October 1, 2015 }}. sports-reference.com</ref>
<ref name=r4>[http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=4621&Gender=M Glenn Morris]. trackfield.brinkster.net</ref>
}}

==Bibliography==
* Riefenstahl, Leni (1995), ''Leni Riefenstahl'', Picador

==External links==
{{Commons category|Glenn Morris}}
*[https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/glenn-e-morris Glenn Morris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322003822/https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/glenn-e-morris |date=March 22, 2019 }} at the [[Colorado Encyclopedia]]
*[https://csurams.com/hof.aspx?hof=156 Glenn Morris] at the [[Colorado State University]] Athletics Hall of Fame
*{{USATF Hall of Fame|227}}
*{{Footballstats |nfl=2521632 |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=MorrGl20 |dbf= |rotoworld=}}
*{{IMDb name|0606558}}
*{{Find a Grave|6802838}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GER}} [[Hans-Heinrich Sievert]]|title=[[Decathlon#Records|Men's Decathlon World Record Holder]]|years=August 8, 1936 – June 30, 1950|after={{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Bob Mathias]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Decathlon}}
{{Footer US NC Decathlon Men}}
{{Sullivan Award winners}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1936 Summer Olympics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Glenn}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American men decathletes]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Colorado State Rams football players]]
[[Category:Colorado State Rams men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Military personnel from San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Colorado]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:People from Elbert County, Colorado]]
[[Category:People from Menlo Park, California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from San Mateo County, California]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]