Hall of Fame
Norman O. Wilcox ('42)Norman O. Wilcox earned nine letters in football for legendary coaches Frank Keaney and Bill Beck and in track & field for Fred Tootell, all Rhode Island Hall of Famers. Wilcox was a three-year letter winner in football from 1939-41 and also starred in indoor and outdoor track from 1940-42. During his junior season in 1941, Wilcox was the New England Intercollegiate Athletic Association hammer throw champion. At the 1941 IC4A Championship, he captured the 35-pound weight throw and placed second in the hammer throw, leading Rhode Island to a fourth-place finish, the highest any URI team has placed at the IC4A Championship. In 1942, he was the NAAU hammer throw champion and was named an All-American. During his three-year stint on the track team, both the indoor and outdoor teams were undefeated in dual meet competition. After graduation, Wilcox served in the Merchant Marines and the United States Army from 1942-45. Wilcox was tabbed as one of the top six American hammer throwers favored to make the 1944 Olympic team. But squad that never materialized because of World War II.
