# Al Oerter > American athlete (1936-2007) **Wikidata**: [Q52642](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52642) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Oerter) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/al-oerter ## Summary Al Oerter was an American athlete and painter who lived from 1936 to 2007. He is primarily recognized as a track and field competitor representing the United States, with a professional career spanning from 1956 to 1980. In addition to his athletic achievements, he was an artist who practiced painting and maintained an affiliation with the University of Kansas. ## Biography - Born: 1936 (specific date and place not provided in source material) - Nationality: United States - Education: Affiliated with the University of Kansas (public research university in Kansas, United States, founded 1864) - Known for: Competing as an athletics competitor in track and field and practicing painting as an artist - Employer(s): University of Kansas (affiliation noted) - Field(s): Athletics (track and field), Painting ## Contributions Based strictly on the provided source material, specific concrete outcomes such as papers, products, companies founded, patents, or open-source projects are not detailed. The source material identifies his primary contributions as: - **Athletics Competitor**: He competed as a sportsperson in athletics, specifically in track and field, running, and walking. - **Painter**: He practiced painting as an artist. - **Professional Tenure**: He maintained an active work period from 1956 to 1980. ## FAQs **What was Al Oerter's primary profession and nationality?** Al Oerter was an American athlete who competed in track and field events. He was a citizen of the United States, a country located primarily in North America. **Which educational institution was Al Oerter associated with?** He was affiliated with the University of Kansas, a public research university located in Kansas, United States. This institution was established on March 21, 1864. **What other artistic pursuits did Al Oerter engage in besides athletics?** In addition to his sports career, Al Oerter was a painter who practiced the art of painting. He is categorized as an artist within this field. **When was Al Oerter's professional career active?** His work period began in 1956 and concluded in 1980. During this time, he was active as both an athletics competitor and a painter. ## Why They Matter Al Oerter represents a dual legacy in the fields of American sports and visual arts. As an athletics competitor, he contributed to the history of track and field in the United States during a significant era of the sport's development. His work as a painter adds a dimension of artistic expression to his public profile, distinguishing him as a multi-disciplinary figure. The existence of his work period from 1956 to 1980 places him in a specific historical context of American athletic and cultural history. His affiliation with the University of Kansas further connects him to the academic and research landscape of the Midwest. ## Notable For - Being an American athlete active between 1956 and 1980. - Competing in athletics, specifically track and field, running, and walking. - Practicing painting as a professional artist. - Maintaining an affiliation with the University of Kansas. - Holding the aliases Alfred Oerter, Jr. and Alfred Adolf Oerter. - Having a dedicated website at http://www.aloerter.com/. - Being recognized as a human member of the species *Homo sapiens*. ## Body ### Early Life and Identity Al Oerter was a human being and a member of the species *Homo sapiens*. He was born in 1936 and passed away in 2007. His nationality was the United States, a country located primarily in North America. The United States has a complex inception history, with the declaration of independence occurring on July 4, 1776, and independence being recognized by the country from which it separated on May 12, 1784, via the Treaty of Paris (1783). He is also known by the aliases Alfred Oerter, Jr. and Alfred Adolf Oerter. ### Athletic Career Al Oerter was an athletics competitor, defined as a sportsperson that competes in athletics, which includes track and field, running, and walking. His professional work period as an athlete and artist spanned from 1956 to 1980. During this time, he represented the United States in his athletic endeavors. His career in athletics is a significant part of his biographical record, linking him to the broader category of sportspersons. ### Artistic Pursuits Beyond his athletic achievements, Al Oerter was a painter. He is categorized as an artist who practices painting. This dual identity as both an athlete and an artist distinguishes his professional life. His artistic work is documented alongside his athletic career, showing a breadth of talent across different disciplines. ### Academic and Institutional Affiliations Al Oerter was affiliated with the University of Kansas. This institution is a public research university located in Kansas, United States. The university was founded on March 21, 1864. As of the data provided, the university employs 8,941 people and is a significant entity in the United States, with a high sitelink count indicating its prominence. This affiliation places Oerter within the academic and research community of the Midwest. ### Digital Presence and Legacy Al Oerter maintains a digital presence through his official website, located at http://www.aloerter.com/. This site serves as a resource for information regarding his life and work. His life and career are documented across various platforms, with a sitelink count of 40 indicating a moderate level of digital documentation. His entry in knowledge bases includes detailed connections to his nationality, profession, and institutional affiliations, ensuring his legacy is preserved in structured data formats. ## References 1. Olympedia 2. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 3. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 4. World Athletics database 5. Croatian Encyclopedia 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Sports-Reference.com