Cheltenham Grad, Olympian, and Soaring Legend Dr. Ed Seymour Dies at 98

The 1931 high school alum competed in bobsledding at the 1956 Winter Olympics and later set altitude records in the sport of soaring.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Dr. Edgar 'Ed' Seymour, a 1931 graduate of Cheltenham High School in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, passed away in 2011 at the age of 98. Seymour was an accomplished engineer who competed as a bobsledder in the 1956 Winter Olympics and later became a renowned soaring pilot, setting numerous altitude records.

Why it matters

Seymour's life story highlights the remarkable achievements of a local athlete and engineer who excelled in multiple sports and fields. His Olympic experience and pioneering work in soaring aviation make him an inspiring figure in the history of Cheltenham and the surrounding community.

The details

After graduating from Cheltenham High, Seymour attended Penn State and earned a PhD in engineering from the University of Rochester. He worked as an engineer at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, where he met physicist Dr. Arthur Tyler and the two became a bobsledding team. Seymour and Tyler won the North American and U.S. two-man bobsled championships in 1952 and 1953, with Seymour as the brakeman. They competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Italy, where Seymour was injured during the two-man event but the U.S. four-man team won a bronze medal without him. After the Olympics, Seymour retired from bobsledding and returned to his passion for soaring, breaking numerous altitude records and becoming one of the greatest instructors in the sport's history.

  • Seymour graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1931.
  • Seymour and Tyler won the North American and U.S. two-man bobsled championships in 1952 and 1953.
  • Seymour competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
  • Seymour was inducted into the National Soaring Hall of Fame in 1995.
  • Seymour passed away on April 30, 2011, a few months shy of his 99th birthday.

The players

Dr. Edgar 'Ed' Seymour

A 1931 graduate of Cheltenham High School in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, who went on to become an accomplished engineer, bobsledder, and soaring pilot.

Dr. Arthur Tyler

A physicist who encouraged Seymour to try bobsledding, and the two became a successful bobsledding team, winning the North American and U.S. two-man championships in 1952 and 1953.

National Soaring Hall of Fame

The organization that inducted Seymour in 1995 in recognition of his pioneering work and achievements in the sport of soaring.

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The takeaway

Seymour's life story is a testament to the power of pursuing multiple passions and excelling in diverse fields. His Olympic experience, engineering career, and soaring achievements make him an inspiring figure for the Cheltenham community and beyond.