Ken Carpenter (2003) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Ken Carpenter

Induction:
2003
Class:
1936

Ken Carpenter was USC’s first 2-time NCAA champion in a weight event. He won the NCAA discus throw title in 1935 and 1936 (he was the runner-up in 1934), helping lead the Trojans to the NCAA team championship both years. A 2-year letterman (1935-36), he also won a pair of AAU crowns in the event in those years. He then captured the gold medal in the discus at the 1936 Berlin Olympics with an Olympic record heave of 165-7. He held the American record in the discus from 1936 to 1940. He came to USC from Compton (Calif.) High, where he starred in football and track. After a neck injury ended his football career in his freshman year at USC, he concentrated on the discus. After USC, he served in the Navy, then began a 33-year career as a junior college coach and teacher at College of the Sequoias and Compton College. He died on March 15, 1984, at age 70.