UCLA to name Drake Stadium track for Rafer Johnson and wife

Published Oct. 16, 2019 4:44 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA will honor Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson and his wife Betsy by naming the track at Drake Stadium for the couple.

The dedication ceremony is Oct. 25.

Johnson won gold in the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Games after earning silver four years earlier in Melbourne. He began his UCLA career in 1955 as captain of the freshman team. He ran on the varsity from 1956 to 1958 and led the Bruins to their first NCAA track and field championship in 1956.

The couple's children, Jenny and Josh, also played sports at UCLA.

Johnson competed on the basketball team under John Wooden in 1958-59. The court in Pauley Pavilion is named for Wooden and his wife Nell.