Richard Schauffele

Richard "Molly" Schauffele (26 January 1903 in Cannstatt – 5 February 1983 in Stuttgart) was a German track athlete, football player, politician and sports personality.

Life

In his youth up to his mid-twenties the civil engineer by trade played football for the VfB Stuttgart. At the age of 25, Schauffele switched over to track & field and never looked back.^[1]

From 1919 to 1927 Schauffele played football on the first squad of the VfB Stuttgart. 1927 Schauffele won the Southern German championship title with the VfB Stuttgart. However, the team failed to reach the finals for the German championships.^[2]

1927 marked the end of Schauffele's football career, who from hereon in focused on developing his talents in the throwing disciplines of track and field. At a height of 6'8" Schauffele was a giant of his time and an exceptionally gifted athlete. He successfully competed in national championships up to the age of 40 and was able to garner 32 state and regional championship titles in discus, javelin, shot-put and ball throwing (now no longer a competitive discipline). In 1935 Schauffele's efforts were rewarded when winning the German national team title with the Stuttgarter Kickers.^[3]^[4]

Schauffele's great-grandson, Xander is an American professional golfer.^[5]

Positions and responsibilities

From 1948 to 1950 Schauffele was president of the Stuttgarter Kickers.^[6]
In the years 1951–1954, as well as 1959–1965 Schauffele was a founding member, chairman and president of the Wuerttemberg Athletic Federation (WLV).^[7]
Beginning in 1954 up until his death in 1983 Schauffele held the title of "honorary president" of the WLV. Schauffele was instrumental in installing the first tartan track in Germany in the Stuttgart Stadium, thus attracting large international track and field competitions to Stuttgart.^[8]
In 1959 Schauffele was elected to the Stuttgart city council, where under the city's legendary lord mayor Arnulf Klett he was acting vice mayor.^[9]

Achievements in sports

1927 Southern German soccer champion with the VfB Stuttgart
1928 Qualified for the German team for the Olympic games in Amsterdam (discus), but could not start because of an injury
1935 German Track and field team champion with the Stuttgarter Kickers
32x track and field titles in shot-put, discus, javelin and ball throw^[10]
1936 head judge for all track and field throwing disciplines at the Olympic games in Berlin

Accolades

1950 German Athletics Association (DLV) "Pin of honor" in Gold
1965 German Athletics Association (DLV) "Hanns Braun Memorial Prize"
1970 German Athletics Association (DLV) "Ring of honor"
1976 Distinguished Service Order of the state Baden-Württemberg^[11]
honorary naming of the Olympic training center Stuttgart to "Molly Schauffele Sporthalle"

References