Archive deriving from the personal collection of Olympian boxer Wilbert ‘Skeeter’ McClure (1938-2020), who won a gold medal in the light middleweight division at the Rome 1960 Summer Olympics. The archive, which contains ephemera and personal effects like scrapbooks, awards, correspondence, and souvenirs dating to his time as an AAU and Olympic champion, is highlighted by an official 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics torch that McClure used during the torch relay of the Centennial Olympic Games. Designed by Peter Mastrogiannis, the torch is constructed of gold-plated brass, aluminum, and Georgian pecan hardwood, and measures 31.75″ in length and 2.5″ at its widest point. The base of the handle bears a label numbered “139” and annotated “McClure, Boston.” The body bears some light scuffs and marks and the top bears evidence of onetime exposure to the Olympic flame. On June 15, 1996, the Olympic torch passed through Boston, Massachusetts, tracing the familiar Boston Marathon route as part of the flame's 84-day, 15,000-mile journey to the Games in Atlanta. McClure was one of some 75 torchbearers—Olympians, handicapped athletes and marathon veterans, and community heroes—who carried the flame along the marathon route from Hopkinton to Boston.
Other notable artifacts include:
A participation pin from the Rome 1960 Summer Olympics. Made by Bertoni of Milan, the gold-tone pin features the Olympic rings against an Olympic torch marked “1960.” Complete with its original paper backing issued as “50464” and its white vinyl presentation pouch made by Bertoni, which bears an affixed label and light overall wear. These pins were issued retroactively to Olympians in the 1980s. Accompanied by a second edition of the souvenir book Olympiad 1960.
Two “Olympic Boxing” schedules for the American boxing trials held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on May 18 and 19, 1960, displaying the match-ups by weight class for the first and second days; of particular interest, in addition to listing McClure in the 156-pound division, is the mention of eventual gold medal winners “Cassius Clay,” aka Muhammad Ali, and Eddie Crook, Jr. for their respective 156 and 178-pound class.
A press release from the University of Wisconsin Sports News Service for April 28, 1959, listing the schedule of boxing matches for the Pan American Amateur Boxing Trials, which lists McClure in the 156-pound division and Cassius Clay in the 178-pound weight class.
A stapled program packet for the boxing schedule of the Rome Olympics held at Palazzo dello Sport on September 1, 1960, which lists Clay as a winner in the quarterfinals against Gennady Shatkov.
Lot of three vintage glossy 3.25 x 3.25 candid photos of McClure either boxing or training, and a vintage glossy 3.5 x 5.5 postcard photo of McClure at the Frankfurt Airport after winning gold at the Olympics. The reverse of each photo is signed by McClure, who adds notes to the candid photos and a letter to his parents to the postcard; the reverse of the training photo reads: “My coach, Buddy Carr, showing me some of my mistakes and working hard to get me ready for the Olympics.”
Six letters, cards, and Western Union telegrams sent to McClure in the mid and late 1950s, the highlight of which is a telegram from his manager on April 10, 1956, which reads; “It isn’t the man in the fight, it’s the fight in the man, go get it.”
Group of five vintage scrapbooks compiled by McClure between 1952 and 1960, containing an assortment of newspaper and magazine clippings documenting his rise from an up-and-coming amateur fighter to a gold medal-winning Olympic champion.
Eight boxing-related pins, including two Golden Gloves pins, two USA Boxing pins, an AAU USA pin, a Toledo pin, a Colorado Amateur Sports Association pin, and a Team USA Olympic pin.
Several boxing awards presented to McClure, such as a 1961 citation from the “Northern Province of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,” two Olympic Brother Awards, an achievement award from La Belle Fashion, and more.
Sundry AAU-related items like a judging sheet for a bout between McClure and Huery Reed, a list of matches for “A.A.U Championship Bouts” on March 17, 1956, an official’s pass for the United States National Championships held at the Boston Garden from April 9-11, 1956, an official AAU Boxing Rules booklet from 1961, picturing McClure on the cover, and a pamphlet for fights at the Akron Armory on April 21, 1964. In overall very good to fine condition.
