Medina’s early Olympic gold medalist

Contributed Photo – David Curtiss Munson

Reporters Note – Thanks to the following information provided by reader Rebecca Cooley, who during a research project on a local family, brought to light the interesting story of Medina native David Curtiss Munson who earned a gold medal at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.

Munson won the Olympic gold medal at the 1904 games in St. Louis as a member of the NYAC’s 4 Mile team.

In addition, he also placed fourth at the Olympics in the 1500.

Born in Medina on May 19, 1884 to Dr. Edward and Lillian (Smith) Munson, attended Cornell University and competed on the University’s track and cross-country teams before and after the 1904 Olympics.

Munson gained enrollment at Cornell by earning the New York State Cornell Scholarship for Orleans County while attending Medina High.

In his sophomore year at Cornell he won both the IC4A and AAU mile events.

Returning to Cornell after the Olympics he again won the IC4A mile and also set a new world indoor record for the mile and a half and a new Cornell record in the outdoors mile.

He served as captain of both the Cornell track and cross-country teams in 1906 and is a member of Cornell’s Hall of Fame.

After Cornell, Munson attended the New York Law School graduating in 1909 after which he had a fine career in law.