Optometrist Who Was a Famous Boxing Official
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ARTICLE IRVING BENNETT, OD OPTOMETRIST WHO WAS A FAMOUS BOXING OFFICIAL: HAROLD BARNES, OD Irving Bennett, OD Commission in point of service and [email protected] one of its most competent officials. He had received his license as boxing A great many people lead “double official in 1921. He had completed lives.” I do not write that disparagingly his optometric studies at Columbia or disrespectfully. Once, when I University in 1916. He was in the edited the publication, Optometric United States Naval Reserve from 1917 Management, I ran a series about to 1921. practicing optometrists who were Barnes estimated that he was a concurrently and nearly fully involved judge at 6,000 boxing matches, of in vocations other than optometry. whom 2,000 were “main events,” I recall one being both a practicing and 100 were World Championship dentist and a practicing optometrist. Max Schmeling vs. Jack Sharkey, Round Four, fights. But it was his involvement with Another doctor of optometry was July 12, 1930. Image courtesy BoxRec.com the Schmeling-Sharkey fight that a professional bike rider. But I never established his place in history. As I really met any of these unique reported in a JAOA story in November professionals; that is until I met Dr. 1957, “It was Barnes’ courage in holding Harold Barnes of New York City. Barnes fast to his decision that Jack Sharkey was an internationally respected had fouled Max Schmeling in their boxing referee and boxing official. first fight (1930) that caused Referee In the period between 1955 and Jim Crowley to award the world 1965, I was the Editor of the Journal of heavyweight crown to Schmeling the American Optometric Association on a foul, the only time in boxing (JAOA) and, as such, my life was history the title had been won in that intertwined with many people, places manner. Neither Crowley nor Charles and events. One day in the middle F. Mathison, the other judge, had seen 1960s, I received a telephone call the low punch, and when Joe Jacobs, from Harold Barnes of New York. At manager of the German, appealed to first, I had no idea with whom I was the referee to disqualify Sharkey, it was talking. But I soon did. I had run stories on Harold Barnes’ decision that the about Dr. Harold Barnes in the JAOA in successor to Gene Tunney, who had 1957 and in 1959. He was the famous retired as titleholder, was named.”1 boxing referee and then, concurrently, Why did Dr. Barnes call me? He had a practicing optometrist in Flushing, retired from officiating and judging NY. He was well known in fistic circles boxing matches in 1965. He told me not only for the number of events he in no uncertain terms that boxing refereed or judged but also because was a barbaric sport and must be he was the deciding vote that called outlawed! He had written an article the below-the-belt foul in the world for the Saturday Evening Post in 1958 championship fight between Max entitled “Let’s Abolish Boxing,” and he Schmeling and Jack Sharkey. was forming an association to do just Dr. Barnes, reputably the dean of that. He telephoned to ask me to serve New York’s boxing judges, held the as a director of this new association! distinction in 1957 of being the oldest Of course, I gave my consent. Other member of the New York State Athletic than a confirming letter with my name HINDSIGHT: Journal of Optometry History 5 ARTICLE IRVING BENNETT, OD listed among a prestigious group Boxing” attempts and Dr. Barnes died References of nationally known citizens on the in 1972. 1. Vision and Sports: Dr. Harold letterhead, I heard no more about this To my recollection, the AOA was Barnes and the Sport of organization or its work. engaged in expanding the scope of Champions. J Am Optom Assoc Dr. Barnes, in his letter to me, noted optometric practice, advocating for 1957; 29(4): 252-253. that “most physicians associated with legislation allowing ODs to prescribe 2. Barnes HR. The case against the Boxing Commissions are political hacks diagnostic and therapeutic drugs and “sport” of boxing. J Am Optom incompetent to meet the problems of did not become involved in this public Assoc 1959; 31:227-229. everyday practice. Like most apologists crusade. they cannot make a case for boxing - 3. Goss DA. Harold R. Barnes (1895- now on its dying legs.” He was building Comment 1972) Optometric practitioner on a second article I published in and instructor and boxing This article deals completely with official turned boxing opponent. October 1959 in which he made the Harold Barnes’ life in officiating case against boxing by citing the Hindsight: J Optom Hist boxing matches. However, he also 2014;44:79-80. growing number of physically and deserves accolades for his being an mentally disabled boxers. He urged active faculty member at Columbia optometrists to “play an important role University, teaching optometry there by warning boxers, parents, teachers, from 1920 to 1954. He was the author naive physical education and sports of the textbook, Fundamentals of enthusiasts...about the dangers of Practical Optometry. He also served as 2 ocular and brain injury.” a member of the New York State Board In the book, Boxing: Medical Aspects, of Examiners in the 1940s. his feelings were strongly recorded: “There is no place in the United States today for a ‘sport’ as brutal and crooked as the boxing racket. Harold Barnes, retired official of the New York State Athletic Commission, a boxing judge for 38 years, says, ‘I consider boxing legalized murder. I would outlaw it.’ Isn’t it time the United States ban this public butchery?”3 Dr. Barnes told me that the AOA had an opportunistic duty to study all facets of the problem. Barnes did develop a documented list of 250 cases of partial or total blindness in boxers. He said that list had the names of many prominent boxers who fit in categories of blind, paralyzed, suicides, and other sundry disabilities. He consistently labelled boxing as a “racket.” What he wanted from me, I think, was to take up the cause. I was in no position to do so but I sympathized with his efforts. To my knowledge Dr. Harold R. Barnes in his office. From Vision and Sports: Dr. Harold Barnes and the Sport of nothing came of the “Let’s Abolish Champions. J Am Optom Assoc 1957; 29(4): 252. 6 Volume 49, Number 1, January 2018.