G. LARRY JAMES PASSES
National Track & Field Hall of Famer G. Larry James, a two-time medalist at the 1968 Olympics, died Thursday of cancer in Smithville, N.J. It was his 61st birthday.
A double medalist at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Larry James also set world records and won NCAA titles during his track career. James won the silver medal in the 400 meters with his time of 43.97 seconds at the 1968 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. 4�400m relay team, which set a world record of 2:56.16 seconds, which lasted until 1992.
James set the 400m world record of 44.1 seconds in placing second to Evans at the 1968 Olympic Trials at Echo Summit, Calif., 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 400m hurdles and running the anchor leg on Team USA�s 4�400m relay team (3:03.33).
As a collegian at Villanova under Hall of Fame coach Jumbo Elliott, James won the NCAA 440 yard title in 1970 and NCAA indoor 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. It was in this race that James earned his nickname �The Mighty Burner.�
James was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003. He remained active in the Olympic movement, acting as the men�s head manager for Team USA at the 2003 and 2005 IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships. James also served as the chairman of USATF�s Budget and Finance Committee and was Dean of Athletics and Recreational Programs and Services at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the James family suggests that well-wishers make a donation to the G. Larry James Legacy Fund.
courtesy of USATF
