Ross Carter (March 10, 1914 – June 19, 2002) enjoyed two completely separate sports careers which landed him four athletic halls of fame.
Carter graduated from Lakeview High School and attended Southern Oregon University (then known as Southern Oregon Normal) where he played football in 1932 and ‘33 under future Oregon basketball coach Howard Hobson. He was described as "very aggressive, very fast and very strong".
Carter filled out to 6-foot, 238 pounds and followed Coach Hobson to Oregon. He played on both lines for the offense and defense 1934 and ’35. His toughness led to seven of Oregon's opponents in his senior year selecting him to their "All-Opponent" teams.
Carter was the first Oregon player selected in the first NFL Draft, taken in the eighth round by the Chicago Cardinals in 1936. He played four seasons as a reserve for the Cardinals, then moved into the lumber business as co-owner of Starr-Carter. His son, Ross Carter, Jr., played at Oregon from 1964-66.
Then came his second athletic endeavor as a Masters track and field athlete. Carter didn’t get serious about that until he turned 65. He would set four age group World Records in the shot put and discus. He set the US Record in the shot put in the Men’s 75 age group in 1990 at 40-41/4 inches. He was voted USA Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 after setting an age-group record of 121-8 in the discus at age 80. He threw 101-1 in 2000 at age 86.
Ross Carter was selected to the Southern Oregon University Hall of Fame, the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and the USA Track and Field Masters Hall of Fame.