Albert Richmond "Boo" Morcom (May 1, 1921 – October 3, 2012) was an American track and field athlete. Early career He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. While he is primarily known for his exploits in the pole vault event, he has demonstrated versatility in other events including long jump and high jump. He set several records at Braintree High School. At the age of 19 he was the best pole vaulter in the state of Massachusetts. He became known as "the Barefoot Boy" for his habit of high jumping with one shoe on and one shoe off. Then when he matriculated to the University of New Hampshire under coach Paul Sweet, the Boston newspaper sport pages would refer to him as "One Shoe Boo". His fame spread as he pole vaulted on an athletic tour of Canada with three other athletes including Babe Ruth. In 1940 he took his athletic skills to the University of New Hampshire, where his record in the long jump lasted for 67 years. His studies were interrupted by World War II. Before departing for the conflict, he won the 1942 United States National Championships in the pole vault. He finished in second place in the high jump. He returned to UNH to become the 1947 NCAA pole vault champion. In 1950, he was recalled to the Army's 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" as an officer and Jumpmaster for the Korean War. Olympics Morcom competed in the pole vault at the 1948 Summer Olympics for the United States, finishing in 6th place after passing at lesser heights, then during a rainstorm, missing at the height the eventual winners would clear of 4.20 meters. A week later he beat the winning height by 6 inches. In 1949 he won his third United States national championship. He graduated with a degree in biology and went on to coach Track and Field at the University of Pennsylvania for 35 years before returning to coach in New Hampshire. He started one of the first high school track teams for girls in 1954 and opened the Penn athletic facilities to poor minority high school students. In 1956, he was the coach of the USA Women's Olympic Track Team. Masters Morcom continued to compete in athletics as he advanced in age, competing in college meets through his 40s. As an early pioneer of masters athletics, he held the world record for the