Dink Templeton
A versatile American athlete who seized Olympic rugby gold and later shaped generations of track stars as an innovative coach.
1897–1962 (age 65)·American sportsman·Birthday: May 27·The Lost Generation
Biography
Robert Lyman 'Dink' Templeton was a force of nature in early 20th-century American sports, embodying a now-vanished era of multi-sport excellence. Born in 1897, he first made his name at Stanford University as a standout football player and a fierce competitor in track and field, specializing in the hurdles and high jump. His athletic peak came at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, where he was a member of the U.S. rugby union team that won the gold medal. But Templeton's lasting impact was as a coach. He returned to Stanford and revolutionized track and field coaching with his intense, psychological approach and technical innovations. He mentored a slew of champions, including Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias, and his methods left a deep imprint on the sport, making him a foundational figure in American track coaching.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Dink was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dink Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Dink's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Died at 65
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States rugby union team at the 1920 Antwerp Games.
- Served as the head track and field coach at Stanford University for over two decades.
- Coached Bob Mathias to his first Olympic decathlon gold medal in 1948.
Did You Know?
He earned the nickname 'Dink' for his small stature as a child.
He was a talented college football player for Stanford.
He was known for his fiery, motivational coaching style and creative training techniques.
“The will to win is worthless without the will to prepare to win.”
