Johnny Mathis revisits UNR and his Nevada track-and-field record

Before his gold and platinum selling albums, his 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and his induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Johnny Mathis held the high jump record for the University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay Stadium. The famed singer and entertainer returned to campus Saturday, Aug. 22, to reminisce about his record 6’ 5 1/2” jump set in 1956.

Mathis — whose hits include “Chances Are” and “It’s Not For Me To Say” — enrolled at San Francisco State College, which today is San Francisco State University, on an athletics scholarship in 1954. A San Francisco Chronicle article that same year featured he and future NBA star Bill Russell, noting them as the top two high jumpers in the city of San Francisco at the time. Mathis and Russell, who attended the University of San Francisco, would become close friends, and often traveled to college track and field meets together.

At the University of Nevada track and field meet, Mathis’ website recalls him besting what was Russell’s highest jump attempt at that time, and it notes Mathis' record high jump of 6’ 5 1/2” was only two inches short of the Olympic record.

Ty Cobb, a University alumnus and former special assistant to Ronald Reagan, witnessed the achievement which took place in the former Mackay Stadium located in what is today Hilliard Plaza, the open area in front of the Mack Social Science building.

In his chronicle of the Mathis-Nevada story, Cobb wrote: “As a young high school student, I used to enjoy going up to the old Mackay Stadium at the University of Nevada to watch track and field events. I recall in 1956 catching this young, relatively short student from San Francisco State set a new high jump record for the stadium. I couldn't believe how someone so small in stature could jump that high.”

For Mathis, 1956 would prove to be a monumental year. Following his record jump, he was asked to try out for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. At the same time Columbia Records requested Mathis – who had been singing in Bay Area clubs – travel to New York City to begin work on his first recording. He chose singing.

“On his father's advice, Mathis opted to embark on his professional singing career rather than going to Melbourne with the U.S. Olympic team,” Cobb wrote. “I guess he thought about what his ‘Chances Are,’ and opted for the singing option. His LP record album was produced that year, and as they say, the rest was history!”
“It was a pleasure to have Johnny Mathis visit campus and help us rekindle this special story in our University’s history,” University President Marc Johnson said. “Lives and careers so often take unexpected paths, yet it’s amazing how these kinds of moments from one’s college days remain with us and become lifelong memories.”

Mathis’ campus visit, initiated by Cobb, coincided with his Aug. 22 concert at Reno’s Silver Legacy Resort Casino’s Grande Exposition Hall.

— Writer Jane Tors is the Director of Communications for the University of Nevada, Reno. She can be reached at jtors@unr.edu

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Photo information: Singer Johnny Mathis dons a University of Nevada cap during his Aug. 22 campus visit. Joining him (l-r) are University Athletic Director Emeritus Dick Trachok, University alumnus Ty Cobb and College of Business Dean Greg Mosier.