He was insurance commissioner of his native Puerto Rico from 1977-81. In the world rankings he was in the top 10 for three consecutive years, placing seventh in 19 and 10th in 1962.Ĭruz later became a lawyer and President of a life insurance company. At the NCAA Meet he was fifth in 1962, second in 1963, and fifth in 1964. He was a three-time champion at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning in 1959, 1962, and 1966, also adding a bronze medal at the 1959 Pan American Games.Ĭruz was a three-time IC4A Champion for Villanova, winning in 1962-64.
CHICAGO (AP) Rolando Cruz spent more than a decade on death row for a murder he didn’t commit. Factual background: On February 25, 1983, a 10-year-old girl was kidnapped from her home, raped. Cruz was a three-time Olympian, starting in 1956 and just missing a medal in 1960 at Roma when he placed fourth. Rolando Cruz Struggles with Life after Prison. Rolando Cruz and Alejandro Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois). Rolando Cruz was a pole vaulter who trained in the United States at Mercersburg Academy and then at Villanova University.