Reflections of Gold (1979)

Warrior, athlete, philosopher: take any one of these from the mix, and you just won't have Don Bragg. Whether he's braving the horns of a Brahma bull or standing up to the bull of bureaucrats the world over, facing down adversity is something Don's done all his life. His shimmering Olympic gold medal attests to the fact that he does it very well. Unlike the majority of athletes, however, Don takes the time to meditate on it all and search for meaning in the morass of imponderables we call life. In this book, Reflections of Gold, written at a time of emotional upheaval in his own life, Don shares his "written expressions of feelings in need, kept inside, but not to stay." ("Expressions") About the Author:Olympic gold medalist Don Bragg's career began with imitating Tarzan on backyard rope wings and culminated in the Olympic gold medal in pole vaulting. Dedicated to the twin goals of excellence and helping others, he later served on the staff of Governor Hughes of New Jersey, established a summer camp for underprivileged boys, and was the founding Director of Athletics at Richard Stockton College. His circle of friends has included Rafer Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Rosie Grier, Bob Richards, Wilma Rudolph, Johnny Weissmuller, and Bill Cosby. Don now resides in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife Theresa, surrounded by children and grandchildren. He has received numerous honors, and is regularly invited to special athletic conventions and events.