Sullivan Medalist

There was little doubt last year about who should get the James E. Sullivan Memorial Medal which goes each year to the outstanding amateur athlete in the U. S. The tribunal of 600 sports leaders gave Bobby Jones twice as many votes as his nearest rival. This year the balloting was closer. Out of the panel of ten, selected from 100 nominees, Pennsylvania's bulky, bristle-haired Barney Berlinger finally won by two votes, 424 for him to 422 for sleek little Helene Madison, null swimming champion. who had 70 votes more than Helen Wills Moody.

In a Manhattan trackmeet, Barney Berlinger once took off so heavily for a pole-vault that he crashed through the end-board of the runway. Pole-vaulting is not his specialty any more than weight-throwing, wrestling, boxing, baseball. Considered one of the best all-around track athletes in the U. S., he won the decathlon for the third time in a row at the Pennsylvania Relay Carnival last spring, took more points than any other contestant at the Intercollegiate Indoor Track Championships. Later, he was the leading member of a U. S. track team which toured South Africa. Voters for the Sullivan Medal like to cite an international athlete when one is available. Of Berlinger's South African exploits, they said: "He did more to spread the gospel of goodwill between America and South Africa than any mem ber of the party, according to Manager Gish."* Other voters called him ''a sterling character . . . innately modest . . . a successful influence for good among the growing generation ... a crack rifle shot. .

*Manager Gish was Director of Athletics Frederic D. Gish of the University of Nebraska, no kin to Actresses Lillian & Dorothy Gish.

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