"ALMA RICHARDS: Olympian," by Larry R. Gerlach, University of Utah Press, $34.95, 288 pages (nf)
During the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Alma Richards set an Olympic record in the high jump. A native Utahn, he's one of a handful of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to win an Olympic gold medal in the early 20th century. Richards also had a distinguished career at Cornell University where he helped the team win three national championships. He went on attend graduate school at Stanford University and earned his law degree from the University of Southern California.
Inspired by a 1996 essay about Richards authored by Deseret News columnist Lee Benson for BYU Magazine, University of Utah emeritus history professor Larry R. Gerlach sought to write a biography of "Alma Richards: Olympian." Gerlach guides readers through Richards' southern Utah upbringing in rural Parowan, his time at Cornell, his service during World War I as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and his 32-year career as a science teacher at Venice High School in Los Angeles.
"Alma Richards: Olympian" is more than a story of a legendary Olympian. It is the tale of an incredibly gifted athlete who worked to maintain his Mormon heritage while at the same time changing religious circumstances.
Although it has been more than 100 years since Richards first rose to prominence, the story still strikes a deep chord. Gerlach notably captured Richards' passion to excel, the quest for recognition and the finality of being satisfied with oneself.
A detailed and well-researched account, Gerlach has drawn a compelling portrait of a person who started out with a humble beginning on a Utah farm and eventually became one of the greatest athletes in history, all the while not forgetting who he was and where he came from.
The book doesn't contain any violence, sexual content or swearing.
Ryan Curtis is a proud seventh-generation Utahn and also writes for Utah Political Capitol and KSL.com. In his spare time, he enjoys doing family history research and listening to '70s and '80s music. His email is ryancurtis4218@gmail.com.