Bill Sefton (2001) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Bill Sefton

Induction:
2001
Class:
1937

Bill Sefton won more NCAA pole vault championships (3) than any other Trojan. He shared the NCAA crown in 1935 and 1936 with Trojan teammate Earle Meadows (the pair was known as “The Heavenly Twins”), then won the 1937 title outright. He lettered on 3 consecutive Trojan NCAA championship teams (1935-37) and captained the 1937 squad. Following his junior year, he participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and placed fourth in the pole vault. In 1937, he broke the world record 3 times, going a best of 14-11 (with Meadows) but was unable to attempt to become the first 15-foot vaulter because the bar couldn’t be raised that high. He and Meadows also tied for the 1935 AAU title. He died May 2, 1982, at age 67.