Gil Cruter (1999) - CU Athletic Hall of Fame - University of Colorado Athletics

Gil Cruter

Induction:
1999
Class:
1938

Twice set the World High Jump Record in 1936, topping at 6-10
Two-Time All-American and NCAA Champion
Colorado High School Hall of Fame, 1989
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, 1997

Gil Cruter was a one-time world high jump record holder, as a leap of 6 feet, 8 3/4 inches gave him the mark for what would last only a few hours. A few months later, using the "barrel roll" method he devised, he cleared 6-10, again setting a world record. CU's second African-American athlete, the Denver natie was an alternate on the 1936 Olympic team and was a two-time NCAA Champion in the high jump. He was a long-time teacher in the Denver Public School system (George Washington and Manual), and was active with CU's C-Club for several years. Cruter became one of the first international ambassadors of all sports working for the U.S. State Department, where he worked as a diplomat in Africa through the introduction of sports clinics. Cruter passed away on July 25, 2005, at the age of 90.