Walter Tewksbury was just beginning a dental practice in Tunkhannock when he headed to Paris for the 1900 Olympic Games.
Dr. Tewksbury returned to Tunkhannock with five track and field medals – two golds, two silvers and a bronze.
The longest living member of the 1900 U.S. Olympic team, Tewksbury died in Tunkhannock in 1968 at age 93. Long after retirement from his local dentistry practice, Tewksbury remained a strong supporter of the sport in and around Tunkhannock.
Tewksbury was born in Ashley and Tunkhannock was one of the towns he lived in during his youth. After graduating from Wyoming Seminary, he went to the University of Pennsylvania where he became a track standout while earning his degree from the university’s dental college.
A four-time national collegiate champion as a sprinter, Tewksbury added to his hurdling skills before becoming an Olympian.
In addition to winning Olympic and World Championships titles in the 200-meter dash, Tewksbury upset France’s previously unbeaten Henri Tauzin in the 400-meter hurdles.
Tewksbury placed second in the 60- and 100-meter dashes and came in third in the 200-meter hurdles.
