PRESIDENTS OF THE PAN AMERICAN SPORTS ORGANIZATION
AVERY BRUNDAGE (UNITED STATES)
Avery Brundage was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 28, 1887. A University of Illinois graduate with an engineering degree, Brundage eventually became a wealthy architect. He represented the United States in the decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, finishing will behind Jim Thorpe. In 1914, 1916, and 1918 he was U.S. All-Around Champion. He married Elizabeth Dunlap in 1927. He then entered sports administration as President of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) from 1928-1935. From 1929-1933, he served as President of the United States Olympic Association (USOA - now known as the United States Olympic Committee (USOC)). He then moved up to international sports as Vice-President of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) from 1930-1952. He was rewarded for keeping the United States from boycotting the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games with election to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he served from 1936-1973. From 1945-1952, he served as Vice-President of the IOC. Brundage was instrumental in founding the Pan American Games (he organized a test event at the 1937 Pan American Exposition in Dallas) and was rewarded for his efforts with election as the first President of the Pan American Sports Committee (PASC), holding office from 1940-1951. He was elected President of the IOC in 1952. Re-elected in 1960, 1964, and 1968, Brundage led the IOC for a total of twenty years. Reviled by many who opposed his views and methods, Brundage retired after the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was named Honorary President for Life by the IOC upon stepping down. In 1973, he married Mariann, Princess Reuss. (His first wife had died in 1971.) Brundage died of a heart attack in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on May 8, 1975 at the age of 87.
GENERAL JOSE MARIA DE JESUS CLARK FLORES (MEXICO)
Jose Clark Flores was born on November 28, 1908. At various times he was a civil engineer, industrial businessman, and ranking general in the Mexican Army. He played basketball and fencing. He then entered into the admininstration of sports, serving as President of the Mexican Basketball Association, Mexican Sports Confederation, Mexican Olympic Committee, and the Organizing Committee of the VIIIth Central American and Caribbean Games. He was elected to the IOC in 1952, serving until his death in 1971. In 1951, Clark was elected the 2nd President of the Pan American Sports Committee, serving on four year term. In 1959, he was elected President of the renamed Pan American Sports Organization, and was re-elected to successive terms in 1963 and 1967. He continued in office until his sudden death from a heart attack in April, 1971.
DOUGLAS FERGUSSON ROBY (UNITED STATES)
Douglas Fergusson Roby was born on March 24, 1898, in Port Tabbacco, Maryland. He played baseball and football at the University of Michigan. He played squash for the Detroit team from 1928-1936, winning the national championship in 1932. Roby was President of the Amateur Athletic Union from 1952-1954. Also in 1952, he was elected to both the United States Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee. Roby was elected as the 3rd President of the Pan American Sports Organization fro the 1955-1959 term. He served as President of the USOC from 1965-1969. Roby resigned from the IOC in 1985 and retired from the USOC in 1986. Douglas Roby died in Ann Arbor, Michigan on March 31 1992, at the age of 94.
MAJOR SYLVIO DE MAGALHAES PADILHA (BRAZIL)
Sylvio de Magalhaes Padilha was born on June 5, 1909 in Niteroy, in Rio de Janiero province. A major in the Brazilian Army, he competed in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He placed fifth in the 400m hurdles at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He ws the 1939 South American Champion in 110m, 200m, and 400m hurdles, the 400m run, the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. He was awarded the Helms Trophy in recognition as the outstanding South American athlete of the year. He served as Director-General of Physical and Sports Education for the province of Sao Paulo. President of the Organizing Committee of the IVth Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Padilha was elected President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee in 1963. He was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1964, elected to the IOC Executive Board in 1970, and elected Vice-President of the IOC in 1975. As Vice-President of the Pan American Sports Organization, Padilha served as Acting President of PASO from April to July of 1971, following the sudden death of General Jose Clark. He died on August 29, 2002 at the age of 93.
JOSE BERACASA AMRAN (VENEZUELA)
Jose Beracasa Amran was born on January 11, 1908 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He played soccer, baseball, and basketball. He focused on basketball, becoming President of the Maccabi and of the Union teams. In 1938, his Maccabi team was the national champion of Venezuela. Beracasa was a founding member of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, serving as Treasurer from 1935-1944, and as President from 1944 until the early 1980's. He served as President of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization, and the Bolivarian Sports Organization. Beracasa was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1968. He was elected President of the Pan American Sports Organization in 1971, serving a single four year term. He created the Beracasa Foundation to promote the participation of Venezuelan athletesin international competitions. In 1983, a basketball arena in Caracas was named for him. Jose Beracasa Amran died on August 27, 1986, in Barcelona, Spain, at the age of 78.
MARIO VAZQUEZ RANA (MEXICO)
Mario Vazquez Rana was born on June 7, 1932 in Mexico City. He was a national champion in several disciplines in the sport of shooting. Rana was a member of the Mexican team at the IVth Pan American Games in 1963. He was an official at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Rana founded the Mexican Shooting Federation in 1969, and was President of that organization from 1969-1974. He was elected to the Mexican Olympic Committee in 1972, and served as President from 1974. Rana was Vice-President of the Mexican Sports Confederation from 1973-1976. He served as President of the Organizing Committee of the VIIth Pan American Games at Mexico City in 1975. Rana was so successful at organizing those games, after they were switched to Mexico City at the last minute, that he was elected President of the Pan American Sports Organization in 1975 - a post to which he has been re-elected ever since. In 1991, he was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee. Rana has also served as President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). In 1988, he was awarded the IOC's highest honor - the Olympic Order in Gold.