Jack Ryder (track and field)

A native of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, Ryder was the son of a lamplighter and first became interested in running when he filled in on his father’s route.

[1] During his running career, Ryder coached a number of runners, including future Olympian Francis Sheehan.

[2] Other runners Ryder coached at the BAA included David Caldwell, Thomas Halpin, Bill Meanix, Harold Cutbill, Lloyd Hahn, and Gil Dodds.

In 1921 and 1922, won the Class B mile at the Penn Relays and beat Georgetown, Fordham, and Notre Dame to win the Catholic College Championship.

Another Eagle, George Lermond, won the three-mile event at the Millrose Games as a junior and competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.

[11] Ryder helped coach the United States track and field team at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

[8] In 1935, he was one of 14 college coaches that signed a letter calling for an American boycott of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.