Bill Livingston - Above and Beyond. Tim Mack, the Pole Vault, and the Quest for Olympic Gold

N o book (much less one about the pole vault) is the result of one persons labor.

I would like to thank Plain Dealer (PD) colleague Tom Feran, without whom there would be no Above and Beyond. He was the books first editor and was a never-ending source of encouragement.

PD colleague Mark Dawidziak steered me through the byways of the book world, and I cannot thank him enough.

I was a poor outliner as a boy, and the PDs Mary Schmitt Boyer helped with that, and with encouragement, and with the edifying example of her own books.

Elton Alexander, my PD buddy at many a Kent State or University of Akron basketball game over the years, was always interested and always ready to listen.

Dr. Henry Briggs contributed the title to and encouragement as a true Woodrow Wilson News reporter.

The late John Kotowich, a University of Akron pole-vaulter back in the day, showed me that the bar is never too high. He was a great friend and a fine gentleman. I miss him.

The great Texas columnist Blackie Sherrod, who could not write a note for the milkman without it being a small gem, encouraged me and wrote a fine essay about pole vaulting in the bamboo and sawdust days that gave me an appreciation for that era.

Tom Surber of USA Track and Field provided phone numbers.

My wife, Marilyn, suggested the title. My daughter, Sondra, typed many pages flawlessly. My friend, Leo Spagnola, reminded me it was a labor of love.

Former Dallas Morning News colleague John Anders and his wife Helen gave the book an enthusiastic early thumbs-up, which provided a lot of early momentum.

Clevelander Bob Ramsak of Trackprofile.com helped me with details of injuries suffered by top pole-vaulters.

PD sports editor Roy Hewitt gave the book his blessing.

Former PD colleague Dick Zunt was an invaluable resource when it came to St. Ignatius High School, his alma mater.

My mentor from Kenosha, Wisconsin, John McEvoy, gave me another great example of how to do this writing stuff with his mysteries.

My other mentor, the retired Bill Millsaps, former editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, has listened to many a rant over many a glass of brown in his day. I tried to do justice to pole vaulting the way he honored the integrity of newspapering.

Jud Logan, hammer thrower supreme, was also an early advocate of the book. Tim Macks agent, Chris Layne, approved the project early on and always sought to help. My agent, Lois de la Haba, pumped me up when I was down.

The wonderful men and women of the pole vault community could not have been more generous with their time. Jim Bemiller (B) was especially selfless, reading the manuscript for technical mistakes. Any that remain are my fault, not his.

In addition to B, I would like to thank Don Bragg, the great Sergey Bubka, Steve Chappelle, Stacy Dragila, Ed and Terri Dare, Bob Fraley, Greg Hull, Jan Johnson, Russ Johnson, Brian Kelly, Chuck Kyle, Brian Mondschein, Tim OHare, Bob Richards, Rob Sachs, Ralph Schreiber, Bob Seagren, Toby Stevenson, Jenn Stuczynski, Stanley Underwood, Grace Upshaw, Joe Whitney, and Don and Arlene Mack. Not to mention Tim, who cleared barriers at least 7 meters high.

Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Schemes