Sam Gerson

Samuel Norton Gerson (November 30, 1895 – September 30, 1972) was a Ukrainian-born American civil engineer, wrestler, and 1920 Olympic silver medalist, who helped found several Olympic and civic organizations. He immigrated to the United States when he was 11 years old.

Education Gerson worked to support himself during high school, and initially knowing very little English, attended night school to learn the language. He adjusted well to his new school and neighborhood, and while he participated with the chess team, Southern High School, which he attended in South Philadelphia, won an unprecedented three chess championships. He participated in many athletic teams and was captain of his school baseball team.

His athletic achievements and leadership as Captain of the wrestling team allowed him to receive a partial scholarship based on sports participation and academics to the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering in 1916. It was most likely his win in the bantamweight class at the Middle Atlantic Amateur Athletic Association Wrestling Championship that led to a berth on the U.S. Olympic Team. Dr. George Eisen of Nazareth College included Gerson on his list of Jewish Olympic Medalists in the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Founded olympic societies He was the founder of the United States Olympian Society, an organization of former Olympic athletes. Believing the Olympics could foster peaceful relations between nations, around 1945 he was also instrumental in starting a similar global organization, Olympian International – later the World Olympians Association. A worker for international peace through athletics, one source believed his death by heart attack may have been partly precipitate by his grief over the Munich Massacre of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, many being wrestlers, at the 1972 Summer Olympics by members of the Black September organization.

Honors In February 2001, Sam was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments by being inducted into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.