Hall of Fame
Homer Martin was a 1928 William Jewell College Graduate. He was a four time American National Champion on the hop, step, and jump (now referred to as triple jump) in 1924, 1925, 1927 and 1928. He has held the school record of 47’ 4 ¾ for over 77 years. It is the oldest track record in WJC history. Martin’s abilities earned him the nickname “Leaping Parson.” Martin won the Drake Relays two years in a row. Martin transferred to Jewell from Ewing College in Ewing, Illinois. He served as pastor of the Jewell Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO while attending Jewell. Although many colleges did not have the hop, step and jump as an event Martin was still able to compete in national meets. Martin was also an accomplished long jumper and high jumper. In fact, he won the long jump in every dual meet for the Cardinals in 1927. He was the first MCAU (Missouri College Athletic Union- the name of Jewell’s conference at the time) student athlete to win 1st place in any event at a major relay event in the U.S. Homer Martin was also America’s leading contender in the hop, step, and jump heading into the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Holland; but he failed to qualify for the team at the Olympic Trials in Boston, MA.
