Charles Tidwell (March 30, 1937 – August 28, 1969) was an American track athlete who was one of the best sprinter/hurdlers in the world in the years 1958–60. He was denied a chance to run in the 1960 Olympics by injury.

In 1969, at age 32, he killed himself after murdering his wife following a violent quarrel between the two.

Track career

Tidwell was a native of Independence, Kansas, where he was a star athlete at his high school. He achieved a national junior record for the 180 yards low hurdles in his junior year in 1955., Kansas High School Activities Journal, September 1955. After graduating high school he attended the University of Kansas.

Tidwell was an outstanding sprinter for his college track team, the Kansas Jayhawks, winning five NCAA individual titles: 100 yard in 1959-60 (he was also 2nd in 1958)"100 Meters, A History Of The NCAA Championships, 1921–2013", Track & Field News 220 yard in 1960"200 Meters, A History Of The NCAA Championships, 1921–2013", Track & Field News 220 yard Hurdling in 1958 (he was also 2nd in 1959)"220 Hurdles, A History Of The NCAA Championships, 1921–2013", Track & Field News. These scores helped the team win back-to-back NCAA team titles in 1959 and 1960., Official Site of Kansas Jayhawks. Retrieved 24 February 2013. Charlie Tidwell: Track and field, Independence, 1937-1969, Photos and biographies for Kansas' 150 greatest athletes: 101-150, The Wichita Eagle, July 21, 2011., April 21, 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2013."Cephas Qualifies for Olympic Trials: Becomes Lone Wolverine on U.S. Team", Associated Press, The Michigan Daily, June 21, 1960. In the 1958 NCAA championships, Tidwell set a world best time in the 220 yard hurdles."Tidwell Sets World Mark", Hutchinson News, June 15, 1958.

Tidwell also won the Kansas Relays 100 yard race in 1959 and 1960, winning Athlete of the Meet in 1959, and for this was honored as an inductee in the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame in 2005.

Tidwell's form meant he was one of the favorites to going into the United States Olympic Trials to qualify for the 100 and 200 m at the 1960 Rome Olympics. However, an injury suffered at the trials ruined his qualification chances. Tidwell had qualified first in his heat for the final of the 100 m. In the final, Tidwell had one false start. As the race finally got underway, a pulled muscle at 50 m prematurely ended his race. The injury forced him to scratch from the 200 m trial event."Thomas Sets New High Jump Mark in Olympic Trials", Traverse City Record Eagle, July 2, 1960.The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field, R Hymans, USA Track & Field, 2008.

Tidwell achieved five world best times during his career - none were ratified as world records by the IAAF:Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p 527. on 14 June 1958 in Berkeley, California, he ran the 220 yard hurdles in a new record time of 22.7 s. The 220 yard hurdles event was not officially recognized by the IAAF. on 16 May 1959 in Norman, Oklahoma, he equalled his time of 22.7 s for the 220 yard hurdles. The 220 yard hurdles event was not officially recognized by the IAAF. on 20 June 1959 in Boulder, Colorado, he ran the 200 meter hurdles in a new record time of 22.6 s. The 200 meter hurdles event was not officially recognized by the IAAF. on 16 April 1960 in Abilene, Texas, he ran a 220 yards race in 20.2 s - the course was found to be short at 218 yard 10" (199.60 m). Adding another 0.1 s for the missing distance to 200 m gives a time of 20.3 s, surpassing the world record for that distance of 20.5 s. on 10 June 1960 in Houston, Texas, he matched the world record for the 100 m with a time of 10.1 s. Armin Hary ran a new world record of 10.0 s on 21 June.

American Football career

In 1962, Tidwell tried out with the National Football League team the Minnesota Vikings. "Strictly Personal", Earl More, Lawrence Journal-World, July 26, 1962. However, his tryout was unsuccessful and he was cut from the squad later that year."Vikings cut Two", Reading Eagle, August 10, 1962.

Later life

In August 1969, Tidwell was involved in a domestic dispute that led to the death of both himself and his estranged wife, Karen.

Reports state that he shot his wife at the house of one of her neighbors, then turned the gun on himself after a violent quarrel. The incident took place in Denver, Colorado where Tidwell and his wife were living at the time."Former Track Star Shoots Wife, Turns Gun on Self", Jet, 25 September 1969."Ex KU Runner Kills Wife, Self", Lawrence Journal-World, August 29, 1969.

Rankings

Tidwell was ranked among the best in the US and the world in both the 100 meter/100 yard and 200 meter/220 yard sprint events in 1959 and 1960, according to the votes of the experts of Track & Field News.

+100 metersYearWorld rankUS rank1959 2nd 2nd1960 3rd 2nd

+ 200 metersYearWorld rankUS rank1959 - -1960 4th 2nd

References