Background
He was born in Dayton, Ohio, where his father Dave was mayor.
He was born in Dayton, Ohio, where his father Dave was mayor.
Ohio State University.
During his last years he resided in Florida, working in real estate. Sam "s extraordinary athletic career began at Kettering-Fairmont High School. He was a two-time letterwinner in track and field
During his senior season (1955), Sam established a school record in the pole vault (11-3).
His record setting performance came at the Miami Valley League Championships, helping propel Fairmont to the MVL team title. The first in school history.
While attending Fairmont, Sam also competed in springboard diving. A sport he pursued at the club level
In the fall of 1955, enrolled at the Ohio State University.
While attending O.S.U, Sam lettered in four sports – gymnastics, soccer, track and diving. As a trackman, competed in the pole vault and javelin. His success in those events led to a crossroads: should he pursue a berth on the United States Olympic track and field team, or concentrate on diving.
Ultimately, Sam chose diving.
He was rewarded with international acclaim. The pinnacle of Sam "s diving career was his silver medal performance at both the 1959 Pan American Games and 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy.
In 1965, served in the Ohio House of Representatives. later worked as an unpaid "volunteer counterterrorist," as described himself, going to Central America to fight on the side of anti-communist forces as an advisor to the Nicaraguan Contras. was freed after less than two months. died in Florida on August 11, 2014 aged 77.
He reentered the national spotlight again in late 1986 when he was captured by Sandinista National Liberation Front forces, which announced the capture of a "spy".