Hiram's history also includes the rare and unique distinction of being the only college in the country with a team Olympic gold medal. Hiram's men's basketball team won that medal during the 1904 Olympic Games held in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the third modern Olympics and was the first year a medal would be awarded in the demonstration sport of basketball.

The Hiram squad was selected to compete because of their status as one of the top collegiate teams in the state of Ohio and went on to defeat Latter Day Saints University (now Brigham Young University) for the Olympic Intercollegiate World Championship.

The accomplishment was also selected as one of Sports Illustrated's Most Intriguing Events of the 20th Century.

 

What Others Wrote About the Games

• Sports Illustrated (November 29, 1999 issue): Could Be the Start of Something Big
• 1904 Team Manager W.H. Harmon's eye-witness account
• Hiram Magazine (Winter 2000 issue): Going for the Gold: Hiram's Glory
• St. Louis Dispatch (July 13, 1905 issue): Terriers World Champions
• Warren Tribune Chronicle (August 15, 2004 issue): Basketball Anniversary has Local Tie 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back row (L to R): G.A. Vincent, Ben Phillips, Harry Munn, Earl Clark, Carl Harmon
Front row (L to R); Paul Wilson, Wallace Smith, J.J. Line, Carl Clark, Lester Hurd