Don Bragg
Remembering Don Bragg, Olympic gold medalist
Don Bragg won the Olympic gold medal for pole vault in Rome, 1960. He spent time touring Europe and Africa as the U.S. State Department’s goodwill ambassador. He would delight adults and children alike by climbing trees and setting up his Tarzan swings, letting loose his jungle call with enthusiasm. He was offered the role of Tarzan several times in film and television, but circumstances always prevented him from living that particular dream.
Bragg and his wife Theresa lived in Clayton until last year. In a 2009 interview for the Clayton Pioneer, Bragg said, “I have a great family, wife, kids, grandkids. That’s important. People today, when they find out you got a gold medal, congratulate you as though it had just happened. That’s timeless. We were like supermen then. People always saw that.”
Don Bragg passed away on Sat. Feb 16. He was 83. His family will host a public celebration of his life on Sat. March 23, 2-4 p.m. La Grande Estates, 1799 Carpenter Road, Oakley, CA.
Click here to read some the Pioneer’s past stories on this remarkable man.
