Fort Benning names building for Olympic boxer, distinguished soldier from Columbus
A Columbus native who won an Olympic gold medal in boxing and later served a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Army was honored by Fort Benning with a building dedicated in his name Friday.
CSM Edward “Eddie” Crook Jr. is now the namesake of Fort Benning’s Sand Hill Soldier Performance Readiness Center. The center is home of the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program, which helps prevent musculoskeletal injuries and maximize performance for soldiers, according to H2F program director Carson Randall.
The building is filled with new workout equipment and will help soldiers with physical therapists, dietitians, strength & conditioning coaches and athletic trainers through the five domains of readiness: physical, mental, sleep, spiritual and nutrition.
Crook was part of the USA boxing team at the 1960 Olympics in Rome with Muhammad Ali and Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure, according to his obituary. Crook took home the gold in the middleweight division at the age of 31.
“He was the oldest U.S. Army boxer to ever step on the Olympic stage and come home with a gold medal,” Col. Christopher Hallows, 197th Infantry Brigade commander, said during the ceremony.
‘Led at the sharp end of the spear’
During his three decades in the Army, Crook served two tours in Vietnam.
“This was not a leader that led from the rear,” Hallows said. “This was a leader who led at the sharp end of the spear.”
Crook’s actions earned him a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts, according to Hallows.
“It is, therefore, with immense pride and deep respect that we formally dedicate this Soldier Performance Readiness Center in honor of a true infantryman, an Olympic champion and a soldier’s soldier, Command Sergeant Major Edward “Eddie” Crook (Jr.),” Hallows said.
‘Touched countless lives’
Crook’s family members were in attendance for the ceremony renaming the building after their relative. Eddie Crook’s daughter, Terri Crook, spoke to the audience and said this has been a goal of hers for years.
“Dad touched countless lives through his positive messages and, more importantly, through the way he lived,” Terri Crook said.
Fort Benning has done a “remarkable job” capturing his legacy as a proud soldier and an accomplished athlete, she said.
‘You must believe you can do it’
Terri Crook left those doubting their dreams due to their age with encouragement from her father: “You must believe you can do it; you’ve got to believe it first, and then you can do it.”
This belief is how her father won an Olympic gold medal at 31, she said, and how he led and protected his troops in Vietnam.
Terri Crook told reporters her father would be amazed to know the building is being named after him. She said she and her father would pass the building every day when she would drop him off at work so she could have the car.
“(I) find it unbelievable, it’s astounding to know that Fort Benning is recognizing my dad,” she said, “finally giving him his props.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 4:33 PM.