TSU Mourns the Loss of Olympian Eleanor Montgomery

Eleanor Inez Montgomery
(November 13, 1946 - December 23, 2013)
Cleveland, Ohio
(Courtesy Greater Cleveland Hall of Fame)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tigerbelles lost one of their greatest athletes as 2013 came to a close.

 

Tigerbelle Eleanor Inez Montgomery passed away on Dec. 23, 2013. Montgomery was a member of the legendary Tigerbelles that took the Olympic Games by storm as a member of Ed Temple’s team.

 

The Cleveland, Ohio native wasted little time making the national stage, as she took home her first national title at 14-years-old in the long jump. Montgomery qualified for the 1964 Toyko Olympics in the high jump, where she finished eighth, with a jump of 1.71 meters.

 

The Tigerbelle returned to the games in 1968, competing in the high jump at the Mexico City games, finishing tied for 19^th.

 

Overall Montgomery won 13 AAU indoor and outdoor titles during her career, as well as taking home the high jump crowns at the 1963 and 1967 Pan American Games. In the 1963 event she set the meet record in the event.

 

This past November Montgomery was elected to the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame becoming the 10^th member of the Tigerbelles to receive the honor. The high jumper was also inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.

 

The viewing is this Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Calhoun Funeral Home in Bedford Heights, Ohio. Montgomery’s funeral service is set for following day at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, beginning at 10 a.m.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION