SU Legend Marquis Franklin “Bill” Horr ’09 elected to the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Class of 2007

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University track and football great Marquis Franklin “Bill” Horr ‘09 (deceased, native of Munnsville, N.Y.) was honored as the newest member of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Bill Horr, a double Olympic medalist and US national Champion, specialized in the throws. Horr won two medals at the 1908 Olympic Games – a Bronze Medal in the Discus Throw and a Silver Medal in the Discus Throw – Greek (or Ancient) Style. He also finished in sixth place in both the Hammer Throw and Shot Put and was a member of the Tug-of-War team at the 1908 Olympic Games. Horr was the 1908 US National Champion in the Discus Throw and was the IC4A Hammer Throw Champion twice (1906 and 1907). He was also a two-time Penn Relays Champion, winning the Hammer Throw in 1908 and the Discus Throw in 1909.

Horr also made a mark in Football as a tackle and as a coach. He was the first All-American in Football from Syracuse University in 1908 and served as a team captain. The Syracuse University Most Valuable Player in Football is named in his honor.

Horr is the ninth person with ties to Syracuse University to be elected to the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame. He joins Myer Prinstein (Class of 1999), Ray Barbuti (Class of 2000), Charles Reidpath (Class of 2001), Allen Woodring (Class of 2003), Jack Warner, Sr. (Coach, Class of 2002), Oscar Jensen (Coach, Class of 2003), Edward O’Brien (Class of 2006), and Anthony Washington (Class of 2006).

With the election of the Class of 2007, the number of members of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame is 43, consisting of 40 men and 3 women. There are 32 athletes (29 male, 3 female), 8 coaches, and 3 contributors in the Hall.

The purpose of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame is to recognize those individuals who made significant and outstanding contributions to the Sports of Athletics (including Track & Field, Long Distance Running, Race Walking and Cross Country Running) while living in the boundaries (New York State West of and including the counties of Oswego, Onondaga, Cortland and Broome) of the Niagara Association of athletes (including Masters), coaches, and/or administrators (including Competition Officials).

Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame

An overview of the members of the Class of 2007:

Marquis Franklin “Bill” Horr (Athlete, 2007)

· Born in Munnsville, NY on 01 July 1880.

· Graduated from Munnsville High School in 1903. Attended Colgate Academy in 1904. Attended Syracuse University 1905-1908. Graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 1909.

· Represented:

· Syracuse University 1905-1909

· Irish AAC 1908

· Career Highlights:

· 1908 US Olympian

· Olympic Bronze Medalist in Discus Throw (39.44m / 129-5)

· Olympic Silver Medalist in Discus Throw – Greek (or Ancient) Style (37.32m /122-5)

· Finished in 6^thplace in Hammer Throw (46.95m / 154-0)

· Finished in 6^th Place in Shot Put (12.83m / 42-1)

· Member of 5^th place Tug-of-War Team (team withdrew in protest over footwear used by opposing quarter finals)

· Finished in third place at 1908 Eastern Olympic Trials in Discus Throw (40.68) (from 7 foot / 2.13m circle). Meet was held in Philadelphia.

· US National Champion

· Discus Throw – 1908 (40.51m / 131-11)

· IC4A Champion

· Hammer Throw – 1906 (45.05)

· Hammer Throw – 1907 (45.75)

· US National Championships

· Discus Throw 2^nd Place – 1906 (115-0)

· Shot Put 3^rd Place – 1908 (42-8.5)

· 1909 Penn Relays Discus Throw Champion (131-3)

· 1908 Penn Relays Hammer Throw Champion (145-07)

· Member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity

· Football Related:

· Horr was honored as a football team captain

· 4 time letter winner football 1905-06-07-08 in Football and in Track and Field

· 1908 All-American in Football (as a tackle) – First All-American in Football from Syracuse University

· Honors:

· SU Letter Winner of Distinction (Football) November 7, 1969 – Posthumous

· Inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame – 1992

· Syracuse University Most Valuable Player Award for football named in honor of Bill Horr

Greek style (or ancient style) discus throw: “The athletes threw from a raised wooden platform which sloped forward, and had to throw from a position similar to the statue of Discobolus, but without spinning.” Pg 242, Athletics Statistics Book, Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, Athens 2004

Syracuse University Athletics

SU Legend Marquis Franklin “Bill” Horr ’09 elected to the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Class of 2007

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