Larry James
Encyclopedia
George Lawrence "Larry" James (November 6, 1947 – November 6, 2008) was an American
track athlete
.
, and took up track in seventh grade. He attended White Plains High School
, where he competed in the intermediate hurdles and the triple jump.
in Mexico City
, James also set world records and won NCAA
titles during his track career. James won the silver medal in the 400 m with his time of 43.97 seconds at the 1968 Summer Olympics, bettering the existing world record
but placing him second behind teammate (and fellow Hall of Famer) Lee Evans
(43.86). James added a gold medal at the Mexico City Games by running the third leg on the U.S. 4x400 m relay
team, which set a world record
of 2:56.16 seconds, which lasted until 1992.
James set the 400 m world record of 44.1 seconds in placing second to Evans at the 1968 Olympic Trials
at Echo Summit
, California
, when Evans' winning time of 44.0 was disallowed by the IAAF because he wore illegal brush spike shoes. James was a double gold medalist at the 1970 World University Games, winning the 400 m hurdles and running the anchor leg on Team USA's 4x400 m relay team (3:03.33). As a collegian at Villanova University
under Hall of Fame coach Jumbo Elliott, James won the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
440 yd (402.3 m) title in 1970 and NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
crowns at that distance in 1968, 1969 and 1970. At the 1968 Penn Relays
, his anchor leg of 43.9 was the fastest ever run in the history of the relay carnival and sparked Villanova's scintillating comeback victory over Rice University
.
, James was chair of USATF's budget committee and had recently retired after 28 years as the Dean of Athletics and Recreational Programs and Services at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
. The soccer and track-and-field stadium at the College is named for him, and features a large touchstone at its entrance.
In addition to the bachelor's degree in business administration that he earned from Villanova, James received a Master of Public Policy
in 1987 from Rutgers University
.
In 2003, James was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
.
He died on his 61st birthday on November 6, 2008 at his home in Galloway Township, New Jersey
of colon cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track athlete
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
Biography
James was born on November 6, 1947, in Mount Pleasant, New YorkMount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
, and took up track in seventh grade. He attended White Plains High School
White Plains Senior High School
White Plains Senior High School is the main school in the White Plains Public Schools system of White Plains, NY. It was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a School of Excellence in 1986-87 but is currently only one of nine public high schools in Westchester County with four-year...
, where he competed in the intermediate hurdles and the triple jump.
Athlete
A double medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympics1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, James also set world records and won NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
titles during his track career. James won the silver medal in the 400 m with his time of 43.97 seconds at the 1968 Summer Olympics, bettering the existing world record
World record progression 400 metres men
The first world record in the 400 m for men was recognized by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, now known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, in 1912...
but placing him second behind teammate (and fellow Hall of Famer) Lee Evans
Lee Evans (athlete)
Lee Edward Evans is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
(43.86). James added a gold medal at the Mexico City Games by running the third leg on the U.S. 4x400 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
team, which set a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 2:56.16 seconds, which lasted until 1992.
James set the 400 m world record of 44.1 seconds in placing second to Evans at the 1968 Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
at Echo Summit
Echo Summit
Echo Summit is a mountain pass located in eastern El Dorado County, California, USA. At an elevation of , it is the highest point on U.S...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, when Evans' winning time of 44.0 was disallowed by the IAAF because he wore illegal brush spike shoes. James was a double gold medalist at the 1970 World University Games, winning the 400 m hurdles and running the anchor leg on Team USA's 4x400 m relay team (3:03.33). As a collegian at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
under Hall of Fame coach Jumbo Elliott, James won the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
440 yd (402.3 m) title in 1970 and NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Men's Indoor Track and Field-See also:*NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*Pre-NCAA Indoor Track and Field Champions...
crowns at that distance in 1968, 1969 and 1970. At the 1968 Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, his anchor leg of 43.9 was the fastest ever run in the history of the relay carnival and sparked Villanova's scintillating comeback victory over Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
.
Coaching
The head manager for Team USA at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
, James was chair of USATF's budget committee and had recently retired after 28 years as the Dean of Athletics and Recreational Programs and Services at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, an hour from Philadelphia and 20 minutes from Atlantic City, is an undergraduate and graduate college of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey system of higher education. The College was...
. The soccer and track-and-field stadium at the College is named for him, and features a large touchstone at its entrance.
In addition to the bachelor's degree in business administration that he earned from Villanova, James received a Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
in 1987 from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
In 2003, James was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
.
He died on his 61st birthday on November 6, 2008 at his home in Galloway Township, New Jersey
Galloway Township, New Jersey
Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 37,349...
of colon cancer.
External links
- MSN.FOX Sports.com November 6, 2008 announcement of James' death.
- NYTimes obituary
- sports-reference.com profile
- The Mighty Burner Still Burns Bright