This feature originally appeared in the 2023 Spring edition of the Cal Sports Quarterly. The Cal Athletics flagship magazine features long-form sports journalism at its finest and provides in-depth coverage of the scholar-athlete experience in Berkeley. Printed copies are mailed four times a year to Bear Backers who give annually at the Bear Club level (currently $600 or more). For more information on how you can receive a printed version of the Cal Sports Quarterly at home, send an email to CalAthleticsFund@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-2427.




When Jon Epps was playing baseball and football for Cal back in the early 1960s, he went to the athletic department to secure the services of a tutor who could help him with a tough courseload that included math, physics and chemistry.

Epps was matched with Jerry Siebert, who knew a little something about being an athlete himself.

Siebert was a member of Cal's track & field team and one of the top distance runners in the world. He also was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society for his outstanding work as a physics student. In short, he was the ultimate example of the Cal student-athlete – excelling at the highest level both in the classroom and the playing arena.

Siebert recognized the holistic experience he had at Cal and never forgot it. He and Epps became lifelong friends, and the two often discussed the rare combination of elite academics and athletics their experience in Berkeley afforded them.

"Jerry and I talked about that for years and years – the people that have been able to have great academic and athletic careers," Epps said. "It's a combination you don't find very often."

Siebert passed away last December. Before his death at the age of 84, he spoke of the wonderful experience he had at Cal, and how that inspired him to make a seven-figure gift to improve Cal's Hall of Fame.

"I wanted to make a donation to make a difference," Siebert said. "I spend a lot of years at Cal and got to take advantage of all of Cal's facilities. It was just magic academically for every student."

Siebert ultimately became the No. 1-ranked half-miler in the United States and No. 2 in the world. He qualified for the Olympics in 1960 and 1964 and was part of the world record two-mile relay team in 1960. He was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Siebert ended up earning his Ph.D. from Cal and went on to spend three years doing post-doctoral research at Cornell before embarking on a successful career as a renowned physicist.

"We are incredibly grateful for the gracious gift Jerry made to Cal Athletics before his passing last year," Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. "Jerry was very passionate about our Hall of Fame, and we are working to determine the best ways we can put his generosity to good use."

Epps actually crossed paths with Siebert before ever making it to Cal. While attending Merced High School, Epps attended the prestigious West Coast Relays at Fresno City College. Siebert was there that day competing with his Cal teammates.

"I remember looking down at those Cal athletes and saying to myself, 'Wow, wouldn't it be neat to go to Cal?'" Epps said. "These guys are really, really smart and really, really good athletes. Jerry and I were both really proud to be Cal graduates. We both believed our education was as good as it gets."