William Eugene "Billy Gene" Pemelton (born September 5, 1941, in

Mercedes, Texas Mercedes is a U.S. city in Hidalgo County, Texas. The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. Geography Mercedes is located in southeastern Hidalgo Cou ...

) is a retired American

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...

athlete. He represented the United States in the pole vault at the 1964 Olympics where he finished in eighth place. He qualified by finishing third at the United States Olympic Trials. He vaulted collegiately for Abilene Christian University. Prior to that he went to Mercedes High School, winning the Texas State Championship in the 180 yard low hurdles. After the Olympics, he was the National Indoor Pole Vault Champion in 1965.

References

Living people 1941 births American male pole vaulters Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes for the United States Track and field athletes from Texas Abilene Christian Wildcats men's track and field athletes People from Mercedes, Texas Sportspeople from Hidalgo County, Texas {{US-polevault-athletics-bio-stub