Karen Oldham is an athlete — always has been and always will be.
When she was growing up in Philadelphia, she won 11 varsity letters in hockey, softball and basketball in high school. In 1955, she won a gold medal for javelin throwing at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. She represented the U.S. in that event in the Olympic games in both 1956 and 1960. For 10 years, she held the American record for women in javelin.
She’s never forgotten that Olympic experience. She continues to help raise funds for the Olympic and coaches young athletes.
Oldham ended up in Akron when she married, Edwin Ned Oldham, an attorney.
But she never gave up athletics. She instilled a love of sports in each of her four sons and took up the game of golf.
She competes regularly. In fact, she has won the Women’s Akron Golf Association Championship seven times and she regularly competes in the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.In 1996, she was part of the team that won the Senior Women’s International Invitational Golf Match in Belgium.
When not on the golf course, Oldham volunteers. She has worked with the developmentally disabled at Weaver School and has helped the YMCA with its gym programs. She has also served as a deacon and ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church in Akron.
Photo courtesy of the Beacon Journal.
–Amber Djukic