INDIANAPOLIS - 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. 4x400m 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 4x400m 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.
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