Not surprisingly, following the Games, Hollywood came after her. By then she was twenty-four, and her beauty had grown irresistible, her family comparing her to the film legend Barbara Stanwyck. She had a batch of professional photographs taken to shop around as calling cards but then realized she had no passion for a movie career, despite the desire for notoriety she’d had early in her life.
She dated a lot, and soon after the Olympics she married a young man named Eddie Napolilli, who passed himself off as an entertainment agent intent on booking her work in Hollywood. When Betty changed her mind about the trajectory of her life, she also changed her mind about the marriage, which was annulled two weeks later. She continued to date, her suitors including a boxer named Tom Neal, who went on to lead a scandalous life as an actor. (He later shot and killed his last wife, for which he was sentenced to prison.)
Betty could have chosen to marry any man, which was why the family was surprised when in 1939 she decided to wed Richard Schwartz, a Jewish businessman originally from Hyde Park, Illinois, whom she had met in a diner lounge, where a mutual friend had introduced them. Things progressed quickly, and they married soon thereafter. They went on to have two children, a boy and a girl.
Betty and Richard moved often, landing in Colorado as well as in Florida, where she reconnected with her old coach Charles Price on the occasion of his one-hundredth birthday. Though their faces showed time having passed, their smiles revealed a fondness for each other that never wavered and a coach’s pride in the accomplishments of his pupil.
In 1984, a reporter covering the Los Angeles Games reached out to Betty. Aside from wanting to know a little about her life for a human interest piece he was writing, he asked her about the 1936 Games and the ending of the relay race. She told him, “I wish they hadn’t dropped the baton….Helen was faster. We would have won anyway,” displaying some of the arrogance that had been her signature as a young woman.
In 1977, the US Olympic Committee inducted Betty Robinson into its Hall of Fame as “the first woman from the US to win a Track and Field gold medal in the Olympic Games.” In reality, she had been the first woman from anywhere to win an Olympic track-and-field gold medal.
—
For Helen Stephens, whose hopes were to repeat her win in 1940, the Berlin Olympics proved to be her only chance at glory. The rise of Hitler led to a cancellation of the games until 1948, when the London Games took place. By then Helen had turned professional, her amateur career short, explosive, and victorious.
In 1936, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Associated Press. As time went by, she started the Helen Stephens Olympic Coeds, an all-female basketball team and a force to be reckoned with.
Throughout her life, questions about her sexuality and her gender continued to haunt her. Eventually, she shifted her attention to golf, truly following the life of Babe Didrikson, but she never deviated from the Olympic life, taking part in senior-sponsored Olympics well into her seventies.
—
Stella Walsh passed away at the age of sixty-nine in a drive-by shooting in Cleveland. She had gone to a store to buy ribbons for visiting athletes from Poland, when two men robbed a nearby establishment. A shoot-out occurred in the parking lot where she had left her car, a stray bullet hitting her.
That was when the confusion about her gender became more public. The county coroner who performed the autopsy, Samuel Gerber, was the first to reveal to reporters about the male genitalia he had discovered while examining her body. In the report he wrote and released to the press, he stated that Stella “had a mixture of male and female chromosomes. She had no internal female reproductive organs, and possessed an underdeveloped and non-functioning penis, ‘masculine’ breasts and an abnormal urinary opening.” Gerber concluded that her sex would have been ambiguous at birth, and that her parents could have raised her as either a girl or a boy. When the news broke, reporters clung to the lewder parts of the story, nearly forgetting her athletic career and denigrating her Olympic triumphs. Though many argued that it was no longer correct to call Stella a woman, doctors also agreed that it would not have been correct to call her a man, either.
Those who had harbored suspicions about her during her career and those who had lost races to her felt vindicated. But there were other questions to deal with: Had she somehow cheated by withholding her gender? And what was the IOC to do about it, now that so many years had passed? The answer: nothing.
—
Babe Didrikson never again participated in Olympic competition, due to her expulsion by the AAU. In 1933, she took up golf, which she had also played while in high school, and was a top performer in that sport as well. But much as it had with track and field, controversy followed her. In 1935, she won the Texas Women’s Amateur Competition, but complaints by other players caused the US Golf Association to rule that “for the best interest of the game,” she be banned from amateur golf, too, given that she had played professionally in other sports. It was nearly a decade later, in 1943, that her amateur status was reinstated.
Babe passed away on September 27, 1956, in Texas at the age of forty-five, following a long battle with colon cancer. That, it turned out, was the only opponent she could not beat.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing Fire on the Track required the assistance of librarians and archivists located throughout the country and even abroad. Thus, my first thank-you will go to them. Those librarians and archivists include Elizabeth Levkoff Derouchie and Charlotte Holliman, Mary and John Gray Library, Lamar University; Penny Clark, Lamar University; Jameatris Yvette Rimkus, University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign; Paul K. Gjenivick, archivist and curator, United States Lines; Peter Mackie, Edward North Robinson Collection of Brown Athletics; Tim Christ, president, Newark Historical Society; Stephen C. Nedell, Malden Public Library; Anna Sklar, Los Angeles City Historical Society; Michael Holland, Los Angeles City Archives; Kevin B. Leonard, Northwestern University Archives, Evanston, Illinois; Vicki Catozza, Western Reserve Historical Society Library Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio; Barb Diehl, Riverdale Public Library; Claryn Spies, Manuscript and Archives, Yale University Library; Laura Street, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York; April Anderson, Illinois State Archivist; Sharon J. Van Der Laan, Illinois State Library, Normal, Illinois; Kevin George, the State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Linda Stahnke Stepp, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign; Joan Gosnell, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas; Beth Zak-Cohen, Newark Public Library, Newark, New Jersey; the reference staff at the Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, Rhode Island; Lydia Uhlir, Forest Preserves of Cook County, River Forest, Illinois; Ellen Keith, Chicago History Museum Research Center; Lori Osborne, Evanston History Center, Evanston, Illinois; Janet Olson, Northwestern University Library, Evanston, Illinois; Bridget Lavalle, Cuyahoga County Library, Fairview Public Library.
I am thankful for the assistance of the athletes’ families, friends, and biographers who shared their stories and were willing to answer questions, including John Pulaski, who gave me information on Stella Walsh; Rob Lucas, who worked on a short documentary on Stella Walsh; Sharon Hanson, Helen Stephens’s biographer; Dick Riel, who is related to Bert Riel, Betty Robinson’s college boyfriend; Carol Boatright, Bert Riel’s niece; Richard Schwartz, Betty Robinson’s son; Harlyn Mlynek, Richard Schwartz’s cousin; and Jean Rochfort, also one of Richard Schwartz’s cousins, who remembered Betty Robinson very well.
Having found a home at Crown, I am grateful Fire on the Track landed in the hands of the capable and enthusiastic editor Domenica Alioto. Her skills are unsurpassed. In the same vein, associate editor Claire Potter gave her time, energy, and boundless good humor on many occasions. I am grateful for them, and for their whole team.
I am certain that this book would not have come to fruition without my agent and friend Rob Weisbach. From the very first day, when he heard about Betty Robinson and the rest of the group, his enthusiasm for the project wa
s boundless and has not abated yet, nor has his trust that this could be a great book. I believe him to be the greatest champion of this book. For his keen eye, sense of humor, and professionalism, not to mention patience, I am always grateful.
And finally, to my family, the unsung heroes, especially my sister, Francesca, and mother, Celeste, who had to listen to stories not only about these women but also about everything related to running nearly to the point of exhaustion, never complaining, eventually knowing everyone in the book almost as well as I did. Thank you for your love, support, and optimism, which keeps me going every day.
NOTES AND SOURCES
Prologue
Lee Newland: his life, job, physical description, likes and dislikes
Lee Newland’s physical information and life details, including his work, come from an email correspondence with Betty Robinson’s son, Richard Schwartz, Jr., on June 20, 2015, and an extensive phone interview with Schwartz’s cousin Jean Rochfort, who knew Newland, in June 2015.
The Great Depression hits Chicago
Information on the Great Depression hitting Illinois was found in the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis archives; see also David A. Shannon, ed., The Great Depression (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1960).
Chicago and Riverdale
Robert Cromie, A Short History of Chicago (San Francisco: Lexicos, 1984); David Lindsey, “The Founding of Chicago,” American History Illustrated 8 (December 1978): 28; Donald L. Miller, City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996).
The Waco 10 biplane and the accident
Information on the plane and the accident comes from various sources: email correspondence with Betty’s son, Richard Schwartz, on April 23, 2006; March 16, 2015; April 5, 2015; June 6, 2015; June 16, 2015; June 20, 2015; June 26, 2015; July 5, 2015; July 8, 2015; July 13, 2015; July 15, 2015; July 17, 2015; July 21, 2015; November 20, 2015; January 23, 2016; February 9, 2016; March 8, 2016; and March 10, 2016. Additional information gathered from Harvey resident and historian Carl Durnavich. Also, The Harvey Tribune of July 3 and 10, 1931, covered the accident extensively.
Harvey, Illinois
Historical and physical descriptions of Harvey can be found in the files of the Harvey Public Library and the Harvey Historical Society.
Physical description of the victims
This information comes from email correspondence with Richard Schwartz on June 26, 2015; see also The Harvey Tribune of July 3 and 10, 1931, for extensive physical details, injuries, interviews with witnesses, and the aftermath of the accident.
The funeral home
The Harvey Tribune, July 3 and 10, 1931, covered Betty’s initial ride to the funeral home.
Chapter One: ON TRACK
Coach Charles Price and his family
The personal life of Coach Price was researched and studied by Harvey resident and historian Carl Durnavich. He was kind enough to share his knowledge with me in a number of emails from 2015 to 2016.
Thornton Township High School
Extensive files on the high school, its history, and its description can be found in the Harvey Public Library Archives and the Harvey Historical Society.
Charles Price’s college life, history of running, and teaching for the high school
See Thornton High School yearbooks for 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932; also see Harvey Public Library Archives and Harvey Historical Society.
Betty Robinson’s physical description, likes, and dislikes
Particulars about how Betty looked, what she liked, and her everyday preferences come from an email exchange with her son, Richard Schwartz, on June 26, 2015.
Charles Price sees Betty run; their conversation on the train
This was detailed in numerous emails from Betty’s son, Richard Schwartz, from 2015 to 2016.
Chapter Two: A NEW ARRIVAL
Harry Robinson and Elizabeth Wilson Robinson
Mrs. Robinson was a tough, independent woman, unlike most women of her generation. Information about her life comes from email correspondence with her grandson Richard Schwartz on November 20, 2015. Also, more detailed genealogical information on Harry Robinson was made available by his great-grandson Andy Mills on July 17, 2015.
Life in Nebraska; moving to Chicago
Extensive phone interviews with Richard Schwartz on January 13, 2016, as well as email correspondence with him on July 17, 2015. See also Oscar Handlin, The Uprooted: The Epic Story of the Great Migrations That Made the American People (New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1951).
History of Riverdale and the Chicago area, including their industrial revolution
Historic City: The Settlement of Chicago (Chicago: Chicago Department of Development and Planning, 1976); Donald L. Miller, City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996).
Jean and Evelyn are born
Richard Schwartz provided information on the birth of his aunts, along with birth records, in emails on July 17, 2015.
The birth of Betty Robinson
Betty’s son, Richard Schwartz, detailed her birth in various emails throughout 2015 and 2016; Carl Durnavich, resident and historian, also provided birth records. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, holds extensive files on her; of particular interest are folders 63, 109, 120–122, 128, 184, 221, 232, 234–240, 242, 245–249, 254, and 263–267.
Jean and Evelyn’s husbands and children
Information about Jean and Evelyn, their husbands, their children, and their likes and dislikes, as well as their roles in the household, comes from email correspondence with Richard Schwartz on July 8 and November 20, 2015.
Betty’s relationship with her sisters and the rest of the family
Richard Schwartz, in emails throughout 2015 and 2016, provided the dynamics of Betty’s relationship with her family.
Betty’s schooling, hobbies, activities, and accomplishments
The Riverdale Public Library and Harvey Public Library hold extensive material on Betty Robinson’s younger days, spanning from her elementary education all the way up to the 1936 Olympic Games. In addition, her son, Richard Schwartz, detailed his mother’s early days in extensive emails, as did historian Carl Durnavich and Jean Rochfort.
Chapter Three: A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
Physical description of the Thornton Township High School
A physical description of the high school, as well as the classes and afternoon programs it provided, can be found at the Harvey Public Library Research Center.
Betty’s introduction to track and field
Women’s Track and Field (Chicago: Athletic Institute, 1973); Tom Ecker, Track and Field Dynamics (Los Altos, CA: Tafnews Press, 1974); Dorothy S. Ainsworth, A History of Physical Education in Colleges for Women (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1930).
Robert “Bob” Wilson
Information on Bob Wilson can be found in the Thornton Township High School yearbook for 1928.
Chapter Four: THE DEBUT
Betty begins training with Coach Price
Women’s Track and Field (Chicago: Athletic Institute, 1973); Tom Ecker, Track and Field Dynamics (Los Altos, CA: Tafnews Press, 1974); Vern Gambetta, Track and Field Coaching Manual (West Point, NY: Leisure Press, 1981).
Technical aspects of track and field
Dorothy S. Ainsworth, A History of Physical Education in Colleges for Women (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1930); Ecker, Track and Field Dynamics; Women’s Track and Field; Gambetta, Track and Field Coaching Manual; T. R. Collingwood, “The Effects of Physical Training Upon Behavior and Self-Attitudes,” Journal of Clinical Psychology 28, no. 4 (October 1972): 583–585; James F. Fixx, The Complete Book of Running (New York: Random House, 1977).
Coach Price’s life beyond track
Information on Coach Price’s personal life comes from email correspondence with Harvey resident and historian Carl Durnavich, on July 6, 2015; July 9, 2015; July 10, 2015; J
uly 14, 2015; and July 20, 2015.
Track meet sponsored by the Institute Banking Society; Helen Filkey; meet of March 30, 1928; its outcome
See collection of articles at the State Historical Society of Missouri, folders 63, 109, 120–122, 128, 184, 221, 232, 234–240, 242, 245–249, 254, and 263–267.
Chapter Five: OFF TO THE RACES
Illinois Women’s Athletic Club (IWAC)
The IWAC was an important institution in the lives of young female athletes. Information on the IWAC and its mission can be found in the Chicago History Museum Research Center, as well as Women’s Athletic, vol. 12, no. 3; vol. 15, nos. 4–5; vol. 15, nos. 7–8; and vol. 15, no. 11.
Chicago’s trains and automobiles
Bessie Louise Pierce, A History of Chicago, vol. 1: The Beginning of a City, 1673–1848 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1937); Historic City: The Settlement of Chicago (Chicago: Chicago Department of Development and Planning, 1976); Donald L. Miller, City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996); Bessie Louise Pierce, A History of Chicago, vol. 3: The Rise of a Modern City, 1871–1893 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957).
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