At 73, Bronco alum hasn't lost the fight

By Nicholas Pinkerton

At 73 years old, Santa Clara graduate Marty Sammon has pretty much seen it all.

A former Santa Clara boxer and football player, he has pursued several other passions, from his career as an investor and a boxing official to his appearance in several commercials and films.

Sammon grew up in Steubenville, Ohio, about 40 miles from Pittsburgh. It was there that he first learned to box.

"In steel-mill towns, everybody boxes," he said.

In 1947, his family came to California, first to Fontana, and then to the Bay Area. While his father moved from job to job, Sammon frequently found himself in new settings.

"To make a long story short, I think I went to 11 schools by the time I was 15," he said.

Sammon continued boxing and later played football in high school. When it came time for college, he took his athletic background with him to Santa Clara.

Growing up in working-class settings, he was in for a major culture shock upon entering Santa Clara, which, at the time, consisted of only men, almost all of whom were white.

"I'd never seen so many white guys in my life," he chuckled.

Sammon kept busy at Santa Clara by majoring in Business and competing on both the boxing and football teams. To fulfill his military requirement, he enlisted in the ROTC, and, by the time he graduated from school, he earned the ranking of second lieutenant. He volunteered for the 101st Airborne Infantry, the very squad that assisted in the integration of black Americans into Little Rock Central High School in September of 1957.

"It was a great outfit, some of the finest bunch of men I've ever met. We had to be ready to go always," said Sammon.

Sammon still stays in contact with Melba Pattillo Beals and Terrence Roberts, two of the first black students integrated into the school.

"I thought it was difficult to jump out of an airplane, but those kids had some guts," he said when comparing his efforts as a paratrooper and the students' brave attempt to break down race barriers.

Sammon continued to box while serving, but this time with fellow soldiers; he even coached his team. He fondly recalled his days of fighting soldiers ranked lower than he.

"I knew this guy named Archie. I used to spar with him, and he said, 'You know why I like to spar with you? I get to hit an officer, and nobody can punish me.' "

After returning from his service in Little Rock, Sammon pursued his MBA at Santa Clara. At the same time, he was raising two kids with his wife, whom he met during his undergraduate years.

He entered the stock market business in 1961, and still continues today as the vice president of finance for Silicon Valley Securities.

Staying active in sports, Sammon played on a handball team that went to San Quentin State Prison for a match. It was there that he started his boxing officiating career.

Since the prisoners racially segregated themselves, they feared that a bout between ethnically different prisoners could take a turn for the worse, especially because the bouts were always officiated by a prisoner.

Sammon stepped into the ring, and was pleased to the point that he wanted to continue his involvement in boxing as both a referee and a judge. For the next several years, he officiated in a prison league that included prisons throughout Northern California.

"It was a good thing because the prisons hadn't gotten too crowded yet, because now the gyms are used for housing," he said.

In 1976, he applied for a professional license and officiated his first fight at the Circle Star Theater, located in San Carlos.

"Now I've officiated 62 world title fights. I've reffed 15 and judged 47," he said. "It's a wonderful hobby, and I still work as a stock broker."

At 73, Sammon does not show any signs of stopping. In 2006, he officiated a world title bout, and refereed the main bout at a match held at the San Jose HP Pavilion last fall.

In addition, he continues to officiate college fights, and most recently refereed at the Dodge Ackerman Memorial Bout last weekend, which was held at Malley Fitness and Recreation Center.

Sammon's most famous officiating gig, however, came on the silver screen, when he was cast as a referee in the 2004 Academy Award-winning film, "Million Dollar Baby," directed by Clint Eastwood.

"I just sent a headshot and resume down," he said. "This guy calls me and says, 'Hey, can you help us out?' "

Sammon appears in the bout that takes place in London, though the scene was actually shot in the Los Angeles area.

"I spent seven hours in the ring for about a two-minute scene and 45 seconds of face time," he said.

Though not satisfying his full 15 minutes of fame, Sammon found it a pleasure to appear in the film.

"I was spoiled with Eastwood. They were all really nice, and I was lucky to get the gig."

Sammon continues to act, and most recently tried out for an independent film called "Tenderloin."

He has not heard back yet, but hopes to secure the role of an ex-seaman named Owen.

Contact Nicholas Pinkerton at (408) 551-1918 or npinkerton@scu.edu.