Gil Cruter made a lot of statements in track and field at a time when black athletes were not part of the mainstream in collegiate or international competition.
During the 1942 season, six years after Jesse Owens made headlines at the Summer Olympics in Berlin, Cruter twice set world records in the high jump while competing for the University of Colorado. His first world mark of 6 feet, 8 3/4 inches was set at a meet in Fort Collins against Colorado A&M (now Colorado State). He regained the world record later that year with a jump of 6-10 at a meet in Salt Lake City.
Cruter died Monday in a Denver nursing home at the age of 90. As a competitor and later a diplomat for the U.S. State Department and an administrator for the Denver Public Schools, Cruter championed racial equality and coexistence.
“He was very instrumental in helping to calm the whole situation that could have erupted when we were in the throes of the court order on student busing,” said Evie Dennis, former superintendent of schools in Denver. “He played a major role in our efforts for everyone to pull together, and we got through it without any violence.”
When Cruter was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, he talked of a trip with the CU track team. Coach Frank Potts and his team checked into a hotel in downtown Grand Island, Neb., but Cruter was taken elsewhere for lodging. He remembered Potts telling him he wasn’t in any danger.
“I found out later it was a house of prostitution,” Cruter said. “I just accepted it and thought only about the competition. There always will be human indignities. They will live with some people for a long, long time.”
Cruter grew up in Denver and attended West High School. He set a high jump record of 6-4 that stood as a Denver Prep League record well after World War II. He said his only regret from competing in sports was missing a chance to compete in the Olympics, which were suspended during the World War II years when Cruter was at his best.
“He always was a great representative of the Denver Public Schools,” said Robert Conklin, a former athletic director for the school system.
Karen McGee, one of two surviving daughters, remembered learning about her father’s athletic achievements.
“I expected him to talk about a lot of heavy-duty training,” McGee said. “But he was very unassuming. He said he just went to practice every day and competed with the idea of doing his best.”
“He was easygoing and he made friends easily,” said Gail Cruter, another daughter.
Along with two daughters, Cruter is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary, and an adopted son, Leon Cruter. Services are at 11 a.m. Monday through Caldwell-Kirk Mortuary.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
