Jack Beckner (2005) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Jack Beckner

Induction:
2005
Class:
1952

Jack Beckner not only was a decorated gymnast at USC, but he was the program’s most successful head coach. A transfer from Los Angeles City College (where he won the 1950 national juco all-around and parallel bars titles), he won the NCAA all-around championship as a USC senior in 1952, as well as the parallel bars title in both 1951 and 1952. He was the first Trojan (along with Charlie Simms) to land a berth on the United States Olympic gymnastics team. He participated in 3 Olympics (1952, 1956 and 1960), helping the U.S. to Top 8 finishes each year (including fifth in 1960). He also won 5 gold medals at the 1955 Pan American Games and 4 more there in 1957, plus he captured 14 national titles. He then coached the USC men’s team for 24 years (from 1958 until it was disbanded after the 1981 season) and guided Troy to its only NCAA gymnastics crown, in 1962 (his 1964 squad was second). He was coach of the U.S. team at the 1968 Olympics and served on the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Committee. After USC, he was a physical education teacher in the Los Angeles City school district and served as a judge at national and international gymnastics competitions. He is in the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame, National Gymnastics Judges Association Hall of Fame and Los Angeles High School Sports Hall of Fame. He died on Nov.16, 2016, at age 86.