Hans Feigenbaum, a native of Berlin, Germany, was born on July 14, 1937. Tragically, his father, a German soldier, lost his life during World War II. At the age of 11 or 12, Hans was sent by his mother to live with his aunt in Miami, who eventually adopted him. In order to embrace his new life, he decided to change his first name to John and took on his aunt’s married name, Uelses. However, the transition proved challenging due to his lack of English proficiency. Despite this obstacle, he started attending school in Miami during the fourth grade and eventually became a naturalized United States citizen.
It was during his senior year in high school that Hans was introduced to the pole vault. Remarkably, on his first attempt, he successfully cleared a height of 10 feet 6 inches. By the end of the season, he had improved to a height of 13 feet, securing the Florida high school championship title. Subsequently, he joined the Marines, followed by a brief stint at the University of Alabama. However, Hans decided to leave Alabama due to the lack of coaching support he received. Frustrated by the emphasis placed on football rather than track and field, he sought better opportunities elsewhere.
Ultimately, Hans transferred to LaSalle University in Philadelphia, where his talent blossomed, leading him to become an N.C.A.A. champion. In 1965, he successfully obtained his degree. Following his collegiate years, Hans served as a Navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Later in life, he dedicated his time to coaching high school vaulters, passing along his expertise and passion for the sport.
Presently, the world-record holder in pole vaulting is Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, a 23-year-old athlete from Sweden. This year, he achieved a remarkable height of 20 feet 4 inches (6.22 meters), utilizing a fiberglass pole like many of his contemporary competitors.
In addition to his daughter, Ms. Robertson, Hans Uelses is survived by his beloved wife, Mickey Uelses, his brother, Fred, his son, Mark, two grandsons, and one great-granddaughter.
Shortly after Hans Uelses’s triumphant moment at Madison Square Garden, John Glenn made history by becoming the first Marine astronaut to orbit the Earth. Reflecting on this achievement, Uelses proudly remarked, “He was the second Marine astronaut to go into space. I was the first.”
Please note that Frank Litsky, a renowned sports journalist for The New York Times, passed away in 2018.
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