Rcmcocas Galahad

If Frank Merriwell, Stover of Yale and the brothers Rover were alive and fittin' for a fair fight today, they would doubtless compete cleanly for the James E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy -- annually awarded to that athlete who, "by his performance, example and influence as an amateur and a man, has done the most during the year to advance the cause of sportsmanship."* But even those heroes might be edged out by the winner for 1939, announced last week. It was 25-year-old Joe Burk, world's singles scull champion, unbeaten in 37 consecutive contests from 1937 through 1939, twice winner of the famed Diamond Sculls at Henley Regatta, and--as the Sullivan citation said--"a fine example of young American manhood."

Joe Burk is modest. Last week, when he was told of the award, his already pink cheeks turned the color of the apples on his dad's farm, and he said: "Alice Marble should have got it." But the 600 exathletes, sportswriters and promoters polled by the A. A. U. liked Joe best, gave second place to Charles ("Chuck") Fenske, Wisconsin miler, and third place to Tennist Marble. Their reasons for picking Joe:

"His unprecedented successes in rowing have not spoiled his modest, unassuming, gentlemanly character. . . . His example to the youth of America ... of high sportsmanship, indomitable perseverance, self-discipline and an ability to take victory without conceit."

"Aw," said Joe last week, "don't paint wings on me. I'm just a farmer." Down on the Bridgeboro, N. J. farm is where Joe got his Galahad strength. Last week he got up at 5:30 every morning and worked till dusk pruning the farm's 7,000 apple and peach trees. But Joe is no hang-jaw hayseed. At the University of Pennsylvania his marks averaged 87.5%.

Joe says he learned to scull by rowing himself and brothers to school on Rancocas Creek, which runs by the farm. At Penn he was captain of the crew, later sculled for Penn A. C. He was never any great shakes as an oar until he worked out a stroke which no one could beat or imitate--a jerky, robot-like chop with no layback, which gets his blades in & out from 38 to 45 times a minute (average sculler's stroke: 28 to 32). Until this winter, when he decided he was going stale, he trained all year round on Rancocas Creek, racing against a stop watch strapped between his toes.

"If my conduct is exemplary," protests Joe, "it's not so much for the sake of clean living as for better sculling." He drinks no liquor, tea or coffee, never smokes, does not play cards, slot machines, or the horses, swears only "when the occasion demands." The word necking makes him blush. He is mighty sweet on ice cream, and--though jealousy for his amateur standing has kept this a secret--eats Wheaties for breakfast.

*Winners since 1930: Bobby Jones (golf); Barney Berlinger (track); Jim Bausch (track); Glenn Cunningham (track); Bill Bonthron (track); Lawson Little (golf); Glenn Morris (track); Don Budge (tennis); Don Lash (track).

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