Jacksonville’s Bob Hayes is not only the first to win both a Super Bowl and an Olympic Gold Medal, he is the only person to accomplish both. The “Bullet” won gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in both the 100m and 4x100m relay, setting world records in both events. After winning Super Bowl VI with the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes went on to become a 2009 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Locally, Hayes is honored as the namesake of the Bob Hayes Sports Complex and Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Dr. There is also a statue of Hayes by artist Kirsten Visbal called “Passing The Torch” at A. Philip Randolph Park. The inscription on the base of the statue reads:
“Bullet” Bob Hayes 1942-2002
World’s Fastest Human 1964
God Sparked His Feet, Put a Flame in His Soul,
and Gave Him a Voice to Speak to the World.
