Beamonesque

In 1968, Bob Beamon did something so amazing, so unexpected, his name turned into an adjective — Beamonesque — something that hadn't happen in sports since the days of a particular Yankee hitting Ruthian homers. That's the kind of thing that happens when someone adds nearly two feet to a long jump record as Beamon did at the Mexico City Olympics.

Those kind of adjectives had previously been reserved for the art community to describe traits infused in the style of artists, most notably the Rubenesque women of Peter Paul Rubens.

Now Beamon — a graduate of New York's Jamaica High — is bringing Beamonesque to art as the new chief executive officer for the Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery at the Al Oerter Center for Excellence, home of Olympic sports and arts in Fort Myers, Fla.

"It is a tremendous honor to carry on the legacy of the great Al Oerter, the legendary four-time Olympic gold medal discus thrower," Beamon said. "I'm looking forward to working with the board, donors, volunteers and the community to maximize AOTO's strengths while promoting the Olympic ideals and values."

"My late husband, Al, had known Bob since the early 60s," said Cathy Oerter, AOTO board chair. "I know Bob will continue to cultivate Al's passion for arts and sports to motivate and encourage others to achieve their best."

Both Beamon and the late Al Oerter have long histories with the Armory. Beamon was in the building just last February during the Great West Conference Championships. He serves as an Associate Director of Athletics at Chicago State University, one of the member schools.

Oerter — a champion shot putter at Sewanhaka High on Long Island — reconnected with The Armory when the National Track & Field Hall of Fame was established in the building. "This place is where the future of the sport lives," he told Dr. Norbert Sander, the Executive Director of The Armory Foundation. "There should be more places like the Armory across America."