From Olympic boxing to building a last legacy in the U.S. Army, Fort Benning, Georgia’s late Command Sgt. Maj. Edward “Eddie” Crook Jr., is now immortal.
The base’s new Crook Soldier Performance Readiness Center officially bears the name of the African-American Olympic boxing champion turned decorated combat veteran. He had a 30 year U.S. Army career, after his first career as a Golden Glove champion, rising to earn a gold medal alongside his teammate Muhammad Ali at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
“For anyone who has a dream but feels that they may be too old or that their moment has passed, let me leave you with [Crook's] words: ‘You must believe you can do it,’” said Terri Crook, daughter of the honoree, in remarks at the center’s dedication obtained by Military.com. “That belief is how he won an Olympic gold medal at 31 years of age, how he led and protected his troops in Vietnam, and how he lived every single day.”
The Crook Soldier Performance Readiness Center was dedicated on February 27, 2026 in a ceremony attended by Fort Benning Army leaders, community members, and the Crook family. The center will serve as the hub for the Army base’s Holistic Health and Fitness, or H2F, system. H2F is the Army’s official program of record for health and fitness, and provides comprehensive physical, mental, nutritional, spiritual and sleep support.
“This building is far more than brick, mortar, and state-of-the-art gym equipment,” said Col. Christopher Hallows, 197th Infantry Brigade commander, in a statement to Military.com. “This is the new heart of Soldier readiness on Sand Hill.”
As part of the dedication, two larger-than-life photos of Crook were unveiled in the center’s lobby. Both show him smiling in his Army fatigues. His daughter Terry says the pictures show how thrilled and honored Crook was to serve, while the photo caption reads “this center connects [Crook’s] personal legacy of resilience and elite athleticism to building’s modern mission: preparing Soldiers for the rigors of combat.”
After his Olympic victory in 1960, Crook joined the Army, serving two combat tours in Vietnam, earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He also continued his love of sports, as a quarterback for an Army football team that won a championship title and earned Crook the most valuable player award.
According to the website Olympics.com, “Crook was barely tested at Rome. He knocked out three of his first four opponents, before winning a 3-1-1 decision in the finals over Tadeusz Walasek of Poland.”
In the Army, Crook was a committed mentor who founded the ‘Smokers’ boxing program at Fort Benning, to train and help select future Olympians. A graduate of Troy State University in Troy, Alabama, Crook was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. He died on July 25, 2005, but is remembered by the lives his touched.
“His legacy will watch over every future Soldier who trains here,” Col. Hallows said in his statement to Military.com. “Their training at the Crook Soldier Performance Readiness Center will push them to be stronger, to be better, and to be ready.”
