Olympic gold medalist and Prairie View A&M University alumnus Fred Newhouse has sadly passed away at age 76. Newhouse won gold in the 400-meter relay at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Newhouse began running track and field at Prairie View A&M. While he was there, he became a three-time All-American and National Champion. After graduating from Prairie View A&M with a degree in electrical engineering, he went to the University of Washington to pursue a degree in international business. Newhouse was also the director of public affairs for Valero Energy and previously served as the assistant treasurer of the Prairie A&M Foundation.

Newhouse was recognized as one of the top sprinters during his time, most notably during the 400-meter dash. He was a part of the relay team that won gold during the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Additionally, he took home the silver medal during the individual 400-meter event. Before becoming a gold medal Olympian, Newhouse won both gold and silver medals during the Pan American Games in 1971. His medals were for the 4×400 meter relay and 400-meter dash. His individual time during the Olympics, 44.40 seconds, was the second fastest time during the 1970s.

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After he stopped competing competitively, Newhouse was still heavily involved in track and field. In addition to officiating many high-profile events, he was the first Black referee to officiate the renowned Texas Relays in 2004. He was inducted into the Texas Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014 for his commitment to the sport.

Beyond his sporting accomplishments, Newhouse had a significant impact. He founded the Northwest Flyers Youth Track Club in Houston to give young athletes a place to practice their skills. In the track and field community, he was well-respected for his dedication to impartiality and honesty in officiating. He also received the 2017 Heliodoro and Patricia Rico Lifetime Achievement Award from USA Track and Field.