Melvin Whinfield "Peerless Mel" Sheppard (September 5, 1883 – January 4, 1942) was an American athlete, member of the Irish American Athletic Club, and winner of four gold medals and one silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics. Along with Henry Taylor of the United Kingdom, he was the most successful athlete at the 1908 Olympics.

Early life

Born in the Almonesson section of Deptford Township, New Jersey, Sheppard moved from Almonesson to Clayton, New Jersey at age nine, where he worked in a glass factory before moving to Haddonfield, New Jersey and then the Grays Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia in his mid-teens.

Track career

Sheppard, or "Peerless Mel" as he was nicknamed, was rejected by the New York Police because he had a slightly enlarged heart. Cardiopulmonary problems notwithstanding, Sheppard won three consecutive AAU titles in the 880 yards (805 m) from 1906 to 1908 and became a main favorite for the middle distance events at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. By late 1907, Sheppard held world indoor records for 600 yards, 880 yards, 1000 yards, and the mile.

During the indoor season of 1907–08, Sheppard raced Guy Haskins In the first, he was beaten. In the second, about to be beaten again, he threw Haskins to the floor with a flying mare, which he also did to another runner, Adam O'Shea, in the Millrose Games in which he was disqualified. In the third, he walked off the track as he was about to be beaten again. His 1910 trading card called him "undoubtedly the greatest mid-distance runner the world has ever seen."

1912 Olympic Games

thumb|upright=1.1|Sheppard in [[1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm]]

After winning Amateur Athletic Union titles at in 1911 and 1912, Sheppard was a favorite to defend his Olympic 800 metres title at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. At Stockholm, he tried the same tactics as in London, but after an opening lap of 52.4 he was overtaken by teammate Ted Meredith, who set a new world record of 1.51.9. Sheppard won his fourth gold medal as lead-off runner on the 4 × 400 metre relay team that set a world record of 3:16.6.

Post-competition career

Sheppard was a member of the New Jersey National Guard and the 69th Regiment. During World War I, he served as an athletic director at a number of military training camps. After the war, he coached for a number of amateur athletic clubs. Sheppard worked for John Wanamaker and was the recreational director for the Millrose Athletic Association, which was formed by Wanamaker's employees. Sheppard coached the U.S. women's track and field team at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

Death

Sheppard died at his home in Bayside, Queens in New York City. He was interred in New Camden Cemetery in Camden, New Jersey. His New York Times obituary cites "acute indigestion" as the cause of death. He was survived by his wife Estelle (née) Symon, his daughter Adelaide Kohler of Wildwood, New Jersey and his son Melvin Sheppard Jr., who was on Princeton University's track and cross country teams in 1932.

References

Further reading

  • Nelson, Cordner and Quercetani, Roberto (1985) The Milers, Tafnews Press,
  • Archives of Irish America - NYU
  • Winged Fist Organization