Bo Roberson facts for kids
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | July 23, 1935 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: | April 15, 2001 (aged 65) Pasadena, California |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | John Bartram (PA) Wyoming Seminary |
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| College: | Cornell | ||
| Undrafted: | 1961 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
| Medal record | ||
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| Men's Athletics | ||
Representing the  United States |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1960 Rome | Long jump |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | 1959 Chicago | Long jump |
Irvin "Bo" Roberson (July 23, 1935 – April 15, 2001) was an amazing American athlete. He was famous for both track and field and football. Bo Roberson went to Cornell University. There, he was excellent at basketball, football, and track and field.
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, he won a silver medal. This was for the long jump event. He was just one centimeter short of the gold medal jump. That jump was made by Ralph Boston. After the Olympics, Roberson played professional football for seven years. He was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL).
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Bo Roberson: A Talented Athlete
Bo Roberson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He showed great athletic talent from a young age. He attended John Bartram High School and Wyoming Seminary. Later, he went to Cornell University. At Cornell, he became a star in three different sports. He played basketball, football, and competed in track and field. This made him a very rare and versatile athlete.
Olympic Success
In 1960, Bo Roberson represented the United States at the Summer Olympics. The games were held in Rome, Italy. He competed in the long jump event. Bo performed incredibly well. He earned a silver medal for his jump. The gold medal winner, Ralph Boston, jumped 8.12 meters. Bo was just a tiny bit behind him.
Professional Football Career
After his Olympic success, Bo Roberson started a career in professional football. He played as a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL). He played for several teams during his seven years in the league. These teams included the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins.
In 1965, he was part of the Buffalo Bills team. They won the AFL Championship Game. The Bills beat the Chargers 23–0 in that game. Bo caught three passes for 88 yards. In 1964, he led the entire league in "all-purpose yards." This means he gained the most yards from running, catching, and returning kicks. Because of his great performance, he was named an AFL All-Star in 1965.
Life After Sports
After his football career, Bo Roberson continued to inspire others. He became a track and field coach. He was the first coach for track and field at the University of California, Irvine. Later, he also coached at Rolling Hills High School.
Bo Roberson achieved something truly unique. He is the only person known to have an Ivy League degree, a Ph.D. (a high-level university degree), an Olympic medal, and a career in the NFL. This shows how smart and talented he was. Before he passed away in 2001, he worked as a psychologist. He was retired from his job with the Los Angeles Unified School District.
