The world of Masters athletics has been saddened by the untimely death on 22 December of Rex Harvey, USA, aged 73 following a heart attack in Prescott, Arizona.
The well known Official: WMA Honorary Life Member; a lifelong competitor, current Chair of US Masters and a Trojan worker for our sport, had been living with cancer for some years but bravely managed to travel to WMA Championships and help. He was at the WMA Indoor in Torun, Poland last March.
It is as a competitor in the Decathlon that he will be mostly remembered although he did win the M45 pole vault in Miyazaki in 1993. He tried to defend his PV title in Buffalo in 1995, finishing 4th and scored 6690pts in the Decathlon.
I vividly recall the first time I met him when I, as Women’s Representative on the then WAVA Council, presented him with his medal in Melbourne in 1987. Little did I know at that time that our paths were to run parallel for many years as we were both elected as members of WMA Council and the IAAF Masters Committee.
It is passion that runs sport successfully and in an unfunded sport like ours, dedicated Officials such as Rex are the fulcrum. He put his B.S in Mechanical Engineering to good use on so many occasions as he often rescued Organising Committees from potential logistical nightmares at our uniquely large Track & Field Championships.
It has been my sad task to write quite a few obituaries, but the realisation that this wonderful man is no longer amongst us, is one of the most painful. I know you will all join me in sending our sincere sympathy to his wife and family.
Thank you, Rex, you will always be in our memory.
Bridget Cushen
