Malcolm Webster Ford
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Webster Ford athlete and journalist. He was born in Brooklyn, the son of Gordon Lester Ford and Emily Webster Ford (a granddaughter of Noah Webster
, poet, and lifelong friend of Emily Dickinson
).
In his heyday during the 1880s, he was three times the American National Champion as "All Around Athlete", a competition which was the equivalent of today's decathlon
. (It consisted of ten events, three of which are different from those which are run today). He also excelled in individual events. In 1885 and 1886 he was the winner at the National Championships of the long jump
and 100 and 200 yard dash, a "triple" which was not accomplished again until Carl Lewis
did it in 1983.
Ford's father and the Ford family strongly opposed his participation in athletics
and he was disinherited because of his refusal to give up competition. He also twice endured scandals for competing as a professional and was banned from amateur competition.
He married Jeanette Graves, an heiress, in 1893 and they had a child, also named Malcolm Webster Ford. The couple divorced in 1898 and Ford was granted custody of the child.
During the period of his marriage Malcolm was a business executive. At other times he worked as a journalist (his articles on track and field
events were published in Outing magazine). He launched his own publications twice, but both were failures.
On May 8, 1902, he went to the residence of his brother, the novelist and biographer Paul Leicester Ford
and fatally shot him, then took his own life. Ford was said to be in a dire financial condition and his brother had refused him further financial aid. An inquest ruled "temporary insanity".
Noah Webster
Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
, poet, and lifelong friend of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
).
In his heyday during the 1880s, he was three times the American National Champion as "All Around Athlete", a competition which was the equivalent of today's decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
. (It consisted of ten events, three of which are different from those which are run today). He also excelled in individual events. In 1885 and 1886 he was the winner at the National Championships of the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
and 100 and 200 yard dash, a "triple" which was not accomplished again until Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis
Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and...
did it in 1983.
Ford's father and the Ford family strongly opposed his participation in athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
and he was disinherited because of his refusal to give up competition. He also twice endured scandals for competing as a professional and was banned from amateur competition.
He married Jeanette Graves, an heiress, in 1893 and they had a child, also named Malcolm Webster Ford. The couple divorced in 1898 and Ford was granted custody of the child.
During the period of his marriage Malcolm was a business executive. At other times he worked as a journalist (his articles on 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...
events were published in Outing magazine). He launched his own publications twice, but both were failures.
On May 8, 1902, he went to the residence of his brother, the novelist and biographer Paul Leicester Ford
Paul Leicester Ford
Paul Leicester Ford was an American novelist and biographer, born in Brooklyn.-Life and work:He was the great-grandson of Noah Webster and the brother of the noted historian Worthington C. Ford...
and fatally shot him, then took his own life. Ford was said to be in a dire financial condition and his brother had refused him further financial aid. An inquest ruled "temporary insanity".