Until yesterday, 1948 was the last time the U.S. won Olympic gold in the four-man bobsled event. Think about that for a moment. 1948. Sixty two years of competition over fifteen winter Olympics. That’s a long time in athletic competition. Here are some other noteworthy items from that year:
–> The average cost of a new house in 1948 was $7,700 while the average annual household income was $2950.
–> A gallon of gas cost 16 cents and new car could be bought for $1250.
–> You could buy a loaf of bread for 14 cents and a pound of hamburger for 45 cents.
–>Israel was declared an independent state, the U.N. created the World Health Organization and the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin, leading the U.S. and Great Britain to airlift food and supplies for 11 months.
–>Inventions included the 33 RPM LP record, Velcro, and the transistor radio. The first Porsche was also introduced in 1948.
–>The Easter Parade was a top film, South Pacific opened on Broadway, and the board game Scrabble was introduced.
–>Among those born in 1948 were Prince Charles, Samuel L. Jackson, Al Gore, Donna Summer, Ozzie Osbourne and James Taylor.
–>Harry S. Truman was the U.S. President and Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Russian Central Committee.
–>Francis Taylor led the four man bobsled team for the U.S., winning the gold medal in the winter Olympics, held in St.Moritz, Switzerland.
Yes, 1948 was a very long time ago.
Congratulations to the U.S. four man bobsled team, 201o Olympic gold medalists: driver Steven Holcomb, and pushers Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz. Here’s hoping it won’t be another 62 years!
