JENNER, William "Bruce" ~ Graceland Hall of Fame

JENNER, MCGUIRE, CROWNOVER, WELDON, THOMPSON, HOUGHTON, KARDASHIAN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/23/2013 at 21:42:22

HALL of FAME

Bruce Jenner
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

The son of Wiliam Hugh and Esther R. (McGUIRE) JENNER, William "Bruce" was born in Mount Kisco, New York on October 28, 149. Bruce was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young boy. He attended Newton How School, Newton, Connecticut, and Sleepy Holow High School, Sleepy Hollow, New York. Earning a football scholarship, Bruce went to Graceland. A knee injury changed Bruce's life when he was forced to quit football and began training under Coach L. D. WELDON, the first to recognize JENNER's potential.

At the Drake Relays, his debut in the decathlon, Bruce met the Olympic qualifying standard. He finished 10th in the 1972 Olympics held in Munich. He graduated from Graceland in 1973 but continued his training. He spent eight hours a day training at the San Jose City College track, a training regimen that was unheard of at this time.

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Bruce won the gold medal and set a world record with 8,618 points in the decathlon. This mark stood as the world record until 1980 [broken by 4 points by Daley Thompson], and as the Olympic record from 1976 until 1984. In 2011, JENNER is listed #25 on the world's all-time list and at #9 on the American list. He quickly earned the title of the "World's Greatest Athlete" after winning Olympic gold.

Bruce and Chrystie CROWNOVER, also a former Graceland student, were married from 1972 until 1981. They had two children, Burton William 'Burt" and Cassandra Lynn "Casey."

In a 1977 People Magazine article, it was noted that Chrystie worked as a stewardess for United Airlines during the four years Bruce trained full-time. She quit her job after the 1976 Olympics.

Chrystie told People, "Bruce hates to sign autographs but he loves to speak. And he's good at it."

Bruce was married to Linda THOMPSON from 1982 until 1984. They became the parents of two sons, Brandon and Sam.

Bruce married Kris (HOUGHTON) KARDASHIAN in April of 1991. They have two daughters, Kendall Nichole and Kylie Kristen.

When Bruce made his bid for Olympic gold, the atheletes were required to maintain an amateur status. After the 1976 Olympic games, Bruce's image appeared on boxes of Wheaties cereal. Of the several hundreds of athletes who have been featured on the box, JENNER was one of seven who became spokesmen for Wheaties.

JENNER turned his attention to acting. He had the starring role in 1980's Can't Stop The Musice which earned him a nomination for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor. He appeared in 2011's Jack and Jill which, like Can't Stop The Music, won the Golden Raspberry for Worst Picture. Jenner apepared in several television movies and on game shows. He was a semi-regular on the series CHiPS, appearing as Officer Steve McLeish - a substitue for star Erik Estrada who was at the time in the middle of a contract dispute with NBC and MGM.

JENNER hosted an infomercial for a stair-climbing exercise machine. Since 2007, he appears on the reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

He owns the company, Bruce JENNER Aviation, that sells aircraft supplies to executives and corporations. He has enjoyed a successful career as a motivational speaker and a television sports commentator.

JENNER is a dedicated supporter of organizations such as the Special Olympics and American Diabetes Association.

On his personal website, Bruce encourages, "Get involved! That's what America is about - helping other people."

Bruce JENNER was inducted into USA Track and Field's Hall of Fame in 1980, and Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 1984. Graceland's Bruce Jenner Sports Complex is named in his honor.

SOURCES: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php

FARBER, Nancy. "Fame Woes." People Magazine. Vo. 7, No. 14. April 11, 1977

usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=82

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Jenner

Compilation and Submission by Sharon R Becker, August of 2013

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen