Bob Mathias, the former
congressman and Olympic champion, was buried in the San Joaquin Valley city
where he grew up.
Carnations
from pallbearers lie on top the casket of late Bob Mathias September 6,
2006.[AP] |
Hundreds gathered Wednesday for the funeral that was attended by family,
friends and fellow Olympians. He died of lung cancer in Fresno last week at
75.
"Even when he had many reasons to be proud of his accomplishments, he never
acted as if he were famous," childhood friend Pat Hillman said. "He was always
the same shy, delightful, appreciative person who had an endearing way of
reaching out to people, especially youngsters, and making them feel special."
Mathias won his first decathlon gold medal at 17 in the 1948 London Olympics.
He was a fullback for Stanford before winning another gold in the decathlon at
the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Mathias was in the Marines before serving in Congress as a Republican from
1966 to 1974.
