randy matson - track and field athlete of the year 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Randy Matson - Pampa & Texas A&M
Why Honored: Matson, a native of Pampa, won a silver medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a Texas A&M freshman, set the world record three times in one month, and won a gold medal in the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.
Matson combined his 6’6” height and 250 pounds with awesome strength, incredible quickness, coordination, and a work ethic. At one time, he had the 25 longest throws of all time and 52 of the top 53. At the 1965 SWC Championships, he was the first man to break 70 feet, going 70-7 and smashing what had once been the world record of 67-10. Matson set an Olympic record of 67- 103⁄4. His career-best was 71-51⁄2.
