What Richard “Dick” Beckner took from men’s gymnastics, brilliantly executing on the parallel bars in the 1950s and early 1960s, he gave back as a judge and a mentor. Beckner’s career highlights include making the U.S. Team for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, as well as winning three gold medals at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico. He also won several gold and silver medals at the AAU National Championships. He went on to contribute to the sport as a high school, junior college, and collegiate judge. He was a brother of Jack Beckner.
