Charlie Dumas (1997) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Charlie Dumas

Induction:
1997
Class:
1960

Charlie Dumas will forever be known as the first human to clear 7 feet in the high jump, which he did as a Compton (Calif.) College athlete at the 1956 Olympic Trials in the Coliseum. He went on to win the gold medal in that event at the 1956 Olympics. He then enrolled at USC, where he lettered for 3 seasons (1958-60) and helped Troy to the 1958 NCAA title (the Trojans placed second in 1960). He captained the 1960 squad and also participated in the 1960 Olympics, finishing sixth while hampered by a knee injury. From 1955 to 1959, he was ranked among the Top 3 in the world in the high jump (twice No. 1). He was inducted into the National track & field hall of fame in 1990. In 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team. After retiring from competition, Dumas taught and coached at the high school level in Los Angeles. He died on Jan. 5, 2004, at age 66.