Charles Dvorak
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Dvorak was an American
track and field
athlete who specialized in the pole vault
. He attended the University of Michigan
where he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field
team from 1900 to 1904. He participated in the 1900 Summer Olympics
where he was a favorite in the pole vault. However, he missed the competition after being told by officials that the finals would not be held on a Sunday. He won a special silver medal in a consolation competition. In 1903, he set a world's record in the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet, 11 inches. Dvorak returned to international competition and won the gold medal in the pole vault at the 1904 Summer Olympics
. Dvorak later served as a high school football, basketball and track coach in Seattle, Washington
, where he died in 1969 at age 91.
in 1878. He was the son of Frank E. and Antoinette (Hrdlicka) Dvorak. Dvorak attended the Lewis Institute in Chicago, considered the first junior college in the United States. The Encyclopedia of Ethnicity and Sports in the United States credits Dvorak as being one of the earliest Americans of Czech descent to achieve significant success in athletics.
Before enrolling at Michigan, Dvorak had competed in the pole vault, achieving a height of 9 feet, 6 inches. At Michigan, Dvorak worked with track coach Keene Fitzpatrick
, who has been credited with inventing modern pole-vaulting technique. Fitzpatrick taught Dvorak to grasp the pole with his hands close together, resulting in a significant increase in the heights Dvorak was able to clear.
In 1901, Dvorak won the first Western Conference pole vault championship with a jump of 11 feet, 6 inches. After the 1901 season, Dvorak received his bachelor's degree as a member of the University of Michigan's literary class of 1901. He returned in the fall as a student in Michigan's law department, earning his law degree in 1904. Dvorak was a member of four consecutive Western Conference championship track teams from 1901 to 1904 and was the conference pole vault champion in both 1901 and 1903. He won the 1903 conference championship with a vault of 11 feet, 9 inches, breaking the intercollegiate record of 11 feet, 6-1/2 inches held by Chapman of Drake.
In May 1903, Dvorak set a world's record in the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet, 11 inches. He reportedly often cleared 12 feet in practice.
in Paris. In Paris, Dvorak missed the event finals following a controversy over the scheduling of certain event finals for a Sunday. Several American athletes agreed they would not violate Sabbath. The pole vault, in which Dvorak was a favorite, was one of the events scheduled for Sunday. Two of the Americans (Dvorak and Bascom Johnson) nevertheless went to the Racing Club grounds where the event was to be held. They were told not to worry, that the event had been rescheduled. The officials later changed their decision, and the event was held after Dvorak and Johnson had left. Irving Baxter
won the competition with a jump of 10 feet, 10 inches. Because of the confusion, a special, albeit unofficial, competition was arranged for the athletes who had not participated in the Sunday event. Dvorak took the silver medal in the special competition with a jump of 11 feet, 1-3/4 inches.
On his return from Paris, Fitzpatrick praised the American athletes and criticized Paris officials for holding key event finals on a Sunday: "The Americans showed themselves superior in every kind of track athletics. They won practically everything. We felt keenly the breach of faith in holding the Paris games on Sunday, but we could do nothing more than make a formal protest."
An entirely different account of Dvorak's disqualification was published in October 1900 by The Michigan Alumnus. According to the latter account, Dvorak's "form in vaulting had been a revelation to the Frenchmen. Each day cries of 'Bravo! Bravo!' could be heard as Charlie swung over an eleven foot jump with the greatest ease." However, on the day of the finals, Dvorak and the Princeton vaulters chose not to cross the patch where the 100 meters run was occurring and therefore did not arrive at the standards until the other contestants had made their first trial jump. According to this account, Dvorak and the Princeton vaulters were not allowed to participate due to their late arrival.
In 1963, Dvorak, at age 84, was interviewed by Life
magazine about the controversy over the introduction that year of fiberglass poles. Dvorak shared his recollection about murmurs that were exchanged when the bamboo pole was introduced. With respect to the use of fiberglass poles, he stated that he "doesn't know what all the hollering is about."
in St. Louis. While no other vaulter jumped higher than 11 feet, Dvorak won the gold medal with a jump of 11 feet, 6 inches on September 3, 1904—the final day of competition in the St. Louis games. The vault set a new Olympic record, and was described in a press account as follows:
in Moscow, Idaho
. At the time of his hiring, a wire service report noted, "Dvorak probably is better fitted for the position than any other available man in the northwest. He is an all-round athlete, has been connected with track for many years, and is thoroughly in touch with the game."
of Wyoming. He had previously announced plans to spend the summer prospecting with an old miner. In the fall of 1908, he moved to Spokane, Washington
.
In 1910, Dvorak was employed in helping to organize the Union Title and Trust Company of Okanogan County, Washington. He was placed in charge of the company's legal and trust work.
In 1912, Dvorak moved from Molson, Washington
, to Marcus, Washington
. From at least 1913 to 1914, he was also the proprietor of Sunny Slope Farm, an apple raising business at Bossburg, Washington
.
From at least 1914 to 1917, he was the Chief Deputy Assessor of Stevens County, Washington, at Colville
, in the northeastern part of the state.
In February 1918, Dvorak and his wife had a son, Robert Larry Dvorak (1918–1986), who was born in Spirit Lake, Idaho
.
, where he was hired as the coach of all athletic teams at Franklin High School. He was the football coach at Franklin in 1920 and 1921. At Franklin, Dvorak coached African-American athlete Brice Taylor
, who went on to become an All-American football player at the University of Southern California
. A report on Dvorak in December 1921 noted: "He is coaching the Franklin High School football team and is very much of a success at it. He is very much admired by pupils and associates."
great Harry Speidel. In 1927, Spalding's Official Pacific Coast Interscholastic Foot Ball Guide reported that "Charles Dvorak, the renowned player of former years on Yost's University of Michigan team," was coach at Roosevelt High School. Dvorak compiled an overall record of 42-27-18 in 15 years as a high school football coach. In 1934, Dvorak retired from coaching football to devote his time to basketball and track. Later reports in 1937 and 1941 indicated that he was still a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School.
In 2008, Dvorak was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Track and Field Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who specialized in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
. He attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field
Michigan Wolverines men's track and field
The Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team is the intercollegiate men's track and field program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ....
team from 1900 to 1904. He participated in the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
where he was a favorite in the pole vault. However, he missed the competition after being told by officials that the finals would not be held on a Sunday. He won a special silver medal in a consolation competition. In 1903, he set a world's record in the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet, 11 inches. Dvorak returned to international competition and won the gold medal in the pole vault at the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
. Dvorak later served as a high school football, basketball and track coach in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where he died in 1969 at age 91.
Early years
Dvorak was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1878. He was the son of Frank E. and Antoinette (Hrdlicka) Dvorak. Dvorak attended the Lewis Institute in Chicago, considered the first junior college in the United States. The Encyclopedia of Ethnicity and Sports in the United States credits Dvorak as being one of the earliest Americans of Czech descent to achieve significant success in athletics.
University of Michigan
In approximately 1898, Dvorak transferred to the University of Michigan as a junior in the Department of Literature, Science and Arts. While attending Michigan over the following six years, Dvorak was captain of the track team, vice-president of the Republican Club, athletic editor of the University of Michigan Daily, editor of the U. of M. Republican, and a member of the Comedy Club, the Board of Control, the Gymnasium Team, the Social Committee, the Fencing Club, and the Hawks.Before enrolling at Michigan, Dvorak had competed in the pole vault, achieving a height of 9 feet, 6 inches. At Michigan, Dvorak worked with track coach Keene Fitzpatrick
Keene Fitzpatrick
Keene Fitzpatrick was a track coach, athletic trainer, professor of physical training and gymnasium director for 42 years at Yale University , the University of Michigan , and Princeton University...
, who has been credited with inventing modern pole-vaulting technique. Fitzpatrick taught Dvorak to grasp the pole with his hands close together, resulting in a significant increase in the heights Dvorak was able to clear.
In 1901, Dvorak won the first Western Conference pole vault championship with a jump of 11 feet, 6 inches. After the 1901 season, Dvorak received his bachelor's degree as a member of the University of Michigan's literary class of 1901. He returned in the fall as a student in Michigan's law department, earning his law degree in 1904. Dvorak was a member of four consecutive Western Conference championship track teams from 1901 to 1904 and was the conference pole vault champion in both 1901 and 1903. He won the 1903 conference championship with a vault of 11 feet, 9 inches, breaking the intercollegiate record of 11 feet, 6-1/2 inches held by Chapman of Drake.
In May 1903, Dvorak set a world's record in the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet, 11 inches. He reportedly often cleared 12 feet in practice.
1900 Summer Olympics
In 1900, funds were solicited from faculty, students, alumni and Ann Arbor businessmen to send Dvorak, three other Michigan track athletes, and Coach Fitzpatrick to the 1900 Summer Olympics1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris. In Paris, Dvorak missed the event finals following a controversy over the scheduling of certain event finals for a Sunday. Several American athletes agreed they would not violate Sabbath. The pole vault, in which Dvorak was a favorite, was one of the events scheduled for Sunday. Two of the Americans (Dvorak and Bascom Johnson) nevertheless went to the Racing Club grounds where the event was to be held. They were told not to worry, that the event had been rescheduled. The officials later changed their decision, and the event was held after Dvorak and Johnson had left. Irving Baxter
Irving Baxter
Irving Knot Baxter was an American athlete, who won the gold medal in both the men's high jump and the pole vault at the 1900 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France....
won the competition with a jump of 10 feet, 10 inches. Because of the confusion, a special, albeit unofficial, competition was arranged for the athletes who had not participated in the Sunday event. Dvorak took the silver medal in the special competition with a jump of 11 feet, 1-3/4 inches.
On his return from Paris, Fitzpatrick praised the American athletes and criticized Paris officials for holding key event finals on a Sunday: "The Americans showed themselves superior in every kind of track athletics. They won practically everything. We felt keenly the breach of faith in holding the Paris games on Sunday, but we could do nothing more than make a formal protest."
An entirely different account of Dvorak's disqualification was published in October 1900 by The Michigan Alumnus. According to the latter account, Dvorak's "form in vaulting had been a revelation to the Frenchmen. Each day cries of 'Bravo! Bravo!' could be heard as Charlie swung over an eleven foot jump with the greatest ease." However, on the day of the finals, Dvorak and the Princeton vaulters chose not to cross the patch where the 100 meters run was occurring and therefore did not arrive at the standards until the other contestants had made their first trial jump. According to this account, Dvorak and the Princeton vaulters were not allowed to participate due to their late arrival.
Use of bamboo pole
Dvorak is also known as the first pole vaulter to use a bamboo pole in lieu of the traditional, heavier ash or hickory poles. He first used a bamboo pole at the 1900 Summer Olympics. The hickory pole he had brought with him from Ann Arbor broke on a practice vault. One observer recalled, "we heard a ripping, tearing noise, and looking around saw him lying on the ground beside his pole, which was broken and useless." In spite of the "severe jarring" received in the fall, Dvorak borrowed a light bamboo pole from a Danish competitor and used it to complete his participation in the consolation event. Dvorak's coach, Keene Fitzpatrick, opined that Dvorak would have been able to reach a height close to 12 feet if he had not been forced to jump with a new, unfamiliar pole. Dvorak worked with a bamboo pole for approximately a year from 1902 to 1903, though he discarded the bamboo pole for his old pole when he broke the world's record in May 1903.In 1963, Dvorak, at age 84, was interviewed by Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine about the controversy over the introduction that year of fiberglass poles. Dvorak shared his recollection about murmurs that were exchanged when the bamboo pole was introduced. With respect to the use of fiberglass poles, he stated that he "doesn't know what all the hollering is about."
1904 Summer Olympics
Dvorak returned to international competition as a member of the United States Olympic team at the 1904 Summer Olympics1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in St. Louis. While no other vaulter jumped higher than 11 feet, Dvorak won the gold medal with a jump of 11 feet, 6 inches on September 3, 1904—the final day of competition in the St. Louis games. The vault set a new Olympic record, and was described in a press account as follows:
"There was an unusually fine field in the pole vault contest. Five men broke the Olympic record before the event narrowed down to the final jumps, with three men eligible. Charles E. Dvorak of the C.A.A. then demonstrated his class, and from the 11-foot mark he competed alone, the other four men being tied at that mark. Dvorak's best was 11 feet 6 inches breaking the Olympic record of 10 feet 9-9/10 inches held by I. K. Baxter of the University of Pennsylvania, set at the Paris Olympiad."
Coaching, farming and legal career
After retiring from athletic competition, Dvorak worked over the next 35 years as a lawyer, apple farmer, civil servant, athletic coach and teacher.Armour Institute and Chicago law practice
In 1905, he was hired to coach the Armour Institute track team in Chicago. He also established a law office in Chicago at the Chamber of Commerce Building at 140 Washington Street.University of Idaho
In January 1908, Dvorak was hired as the athletic director and track coach at the University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
. At the time of his hiring, a wire service report noted, "Dvorak probably is better fitted for the position than any other available man in the northwest. He is an all-round athlete, has been connected with track for many years, and is thoroughly in touch with the game."
Legal and farming positions in Washington
Dvorak spent the months of August and September 1908 in the Big Horn MountainsBig Horn Mountains
The Big Horn Mountains are a mountain range in northern Wyoming and southern Montana in the United States, forming a northwest-trending spur from the Rocky Mountains extending approximately 200 miles northward on the Great Plains...
of Wyoming. He had previously announced plans to spend the summer prospecting with an old miner. In the fall of 1908, he moved to Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
.
In 1910, Dvorak was employed in helping to organize the Union Title and Trust Company of Okanogan County, Washington. He was placed in charge of the company's legal and trust work.
In 1912, Dvorak moved from Molson, Washington
Molson, Washington
Molson is a ghost town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census.-History:Molson was founded in 1900 by promoter George B. Meacham, and investor John W. Molson . The mining town's population boomed to 300 that year, and the town had a newspaper,...
, to Marcus, Washington
Marcus, Washington
Marcus is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 117 at the 2000 census and 183 at the 2010 census, a 56.4% increase over the 2000 census.-History:Marcus was named for Marcus Oppenheimer who settled in the area in 1863....
. From at least 1913 to 1914, he was also the proprietor of Sunny Slope Farm, an apple raising business at Bossburg, Washington
Bossburg, Washington
Bossburg is a ghost town in Stevens County, Washington, and is located on the east bank of the Columbia River just south of the Canadian border. Bossburg had a maximum population of 800 in 1892. The town was once named "Young America", although in 1896 it was renamed in honor of the town’s first...
.
From at least 1914 to 1917, he was the Chief Deputy Assessor of Stevens County, Washington, at Colville
Colville, Washington
Colville is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stevens County.- History :...
, in the northeastern part of the state.
In February 1918, Dvorak and his wife had a son, Robert Larry Dvorak (1918–1986), who was born in Spirit Lake, Idaho
Spirit Lake, Idaho
Spirit Lake is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,945 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Spirit Lake is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
.
Franklin High School (Seattle)
In 1920, Dvorak moved to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where he was hired as the coach of all athletic teams at Franklin High School. He was the football coach at Franklin in 1920 and 1921. At Franklin, Dvorak coached African-American athlete Brice Taylor
Brice Taylor
Brice Union Taylor was the first All-American football player at the University of Southern California.-High school career:Taylor played at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington.-College career:...
, who went on to become an All-American football player at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. A report on Dvorak in December 1921 noted: "He is coaching the Franklin High School football team and is very much of a success at it. He is very much admired by pupils and associates."
Roosevelt High School (Seattle)
By 1925, Dvorak had moved from Franklin High School to Roosevelt High School in Seattle, where he served for many years as the football, basketball and track coach. The players coached by Dvorak at Roosevelt High include Washington State Cougars footballWashington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
great Harry Speidel. In 1927, Spalding's Official Pacific Coast Interscholastic Foot Ball Guide reported that "Charles Dvorak, the renowned player of former years on Yost's University of Michigan team," was coach at Roosevelt High School. Dvorak compiled an overall record of 42-27-18 in 15 years as a high school football coach. In 1934, Dvorak retired from coaching football to devote his time to basketball and track. Later reports in 1937 and 1941 indicated that he was still a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School.
Death and posthumous honors
Dvorak died in 1969 at age 91. His last place of residence was in Seattle.In 2008, Dvorak was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Track and Field Hall of Fame.