Sophomore Richard Carter won the 1949 IHSAA Pole Vault State Championship with an amazing 12’ 8.75” after finishing third to Don Hajek and Tom Kincaid both of Evansville Reitz (Hajek won on the flip of the coin) in the Evansville Sectional at 11’ 3”. His story becomes much more inspiring after a two-car collision near Monroe City that left him and two friends in serious condition in the Daviess County Hospital in Washington, Indiana
Carter injuries included a very badly mangled left arm and an eye. Upon hearing the doctor say that the arm would have to be amputated, he arose from the gurney and begged that that try to save it.