UT athlete Martin Korik laid to rest

Marvin Westwestwords

Martin Korik, undefeated as a Tennessee pole-vaulter in four years of dual meets, was buried today at Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. He was 88.

In the era of bamboo poles, Korik was 1948 Southeastern Conference champion at 13 feet, 6 7/8 inches. He eventually cleared 14-1 5/8. He won a gold watch for first place in the Penn Relays and a gold medal in the Florida Relays. He was first in the 1950 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv in the pole vault and decathlon.

Korik was born in Philadelphia. Look magazine honored him in 1945 as the only schoolboy in America to clear 13 feet.

At the University of Tennessee, Korik was elected to the All Students Council and was chosen for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, national leadership honor society. Korik was an Army veteran and publisher of the Jewish Record newspaper for 35 years

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