Ceremonial Funerals Proposed for Olympians

At their friend’s funeral, the older Olympians talked about what it meant to be champions: the sacrifice, the glory--the world’s fleeting memory.

Standing by the coffin of Olympic hurdler Rodney Milburn, Willie Davenport resolved to do something more. Veterans receive a military funeral for their service to their country, he mused. Why not something similar for Olympians?

“We are a unique fraternity,” says Davenport, a former hurdler and bobsledder who represented the United States in five Olympic games. “We share a unique sense of service and sacrifice to country.”

He has proposed that a ceremonial funeral be granted to every American who represented his or her country in the Olympics. It would include an Olympic flag draped over the coffin, a memorial plaque on the grave, and formal condolences from the Olympic Committee and possibly the president.

The Olympic Committee is considering the proposal favorably, although specific details--such as cost and sponsorship--still have to be worked out. Davenport says he has already talked to potential sponsors and would be glad to organize fund-raising himself.

“It’s a classy idea,” says gold medalist Edwin Moses, who dominated the 400-meter hurdles in the 1980s. “It’s such an honor to be an Olympian, and sometimes that seems to get lost when they pass away. I think the families would really appreciate it.”

Davenport was struck by the idea when he attended the funeral of Milburn, his friend and former teammate who died last year. Milburn had fallen on hard times after winning the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles in 1972. At 47, he was found dead at the bottom of a chemical tank, victim of an industrial accident at the Louisiana paper plant where he worked.

Milburn had been living in a homeless shelter. His gold medal had been lost. And, in a last cruel twist of bad luck, the flag that Davenport asked the Olympic Committee to send arrived too late for the funeral.

“I’m doing this as a tribute to Rodney,” says Davenport, who is also organizing a trust fund for Milburn’s youngest children. “And for all the Olympians who were forgotten when they died.”

According to Barry King of the Olympic Alumni Assn., there are approximately 8,000 Americans alive today who have participated in Olympic games. King estimates that as many as 100 die every year. The association does its best to honor their passing, but often simply isn’t informed in time.

“It does seem wrong that Olympians should end their days forgotten,” King says. “And the Rod Milburn situation brought it home loud and clear.”

“If Willie can find a sponsor, I think we are all behind his idea,” said John Naber, president of another alumni organization called U.S. Olympians. “But it shouldn’t be the Olympic Committee’s responsibility.”

Naber won four gold medals and one silver for swimming in the 1976 Olympics. But he said the worthiest aspect of Davenport’s proposal is that it remembers all competitors, not just medal winners.

“In my opinion, being an Olympian is one of the greatest honors you can receive, and one of the few times you represent the whole nation,” Naber said. “It deserves to be remembered, whether you won a medal or came in 27th.”