Larry James, the Dean of Athletics and Recreational Programs and Services at Richard Stockton, was one of four 2003 inductees into the USA National Track & Field Hall of Fame on December 5. James was joined in the induction class by sprinter John Carlos, middle-distance runner Mary Decker Slaney, and 400-meter star Mike Larrabee.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2003 was inducted at the Jesse Owens Awards Banquet and Xerox Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Held in conjunction with the 2003 USATF Annual Meeting, the induction took place at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel in Greensboro, NC. The induction brought to 196 the number of inductees into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

“Our country has been blessed with so many wonderful track and field athletes, and this group of stars adds to our sport’s legacy,” said USATF President Bill Roe. “Their induction into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame is the highest recognition they can receive, and each athlete is most deserving of the honor.”

“The National Track and Field Hall of Fame will be greatly enriched on December 5 when these four athletes formally take their places with the other greats of our sport at their induction ceremony,” said USATF CEO Craig Masback.  

James, 55, won the 400m silver medal and a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. An NCAA champion while at Villanova, James is a former 400 meter world record holder and the 1970 World University Games gold medalist in the 400 meter hurdles. 

Eligible voters for the National Track & Field Hall of Fame include Track & Field Writers of America members, Hall of Fame members, USATF Association presidents, members of USATF standing sports committees and members of USATF’s Athlete Advisory Committee.

Exhibits honoring the members of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame will be on display at the Hall’s new home at The Armory in Upper Manhattan, in New York City. Due to open on January 24, 2004, the Hall of Fame will honor the nation’s finest track and field athletes, coaches and contributors through its three floors of exhibits and its Interactive Learning Center.

LARRY JAMES: Born November 6, 1947. 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 Lee Evans (43.86). James added a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics by running the third leg on Team USA’s winning 4x400m relay team, which set the world record of 2 minutes, 56.16 seconds, which lasted until 1992. James set the 400m world record of 44.1 seconds in placing second to Lee Evans at the 1968 Olympic Trials at Echo Summit, CA, when Evans’ winning time of 44.0 was disallowed by the IAAF because he wore illegal brush spike shoes. James was the 400m hurdles gold medalist at the 1970 World University Games, where he ran the anchor leg on Team USA’s gold medal winning 4x400m relay team (3:03.33). As a collegian at Villanova, James won the NCAA 440 title in 1970 and NCAA indoor crowns at that distance in 1968-1969 and 1970. The head manager for Team USA at the 2003 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships, James is chair of USATF’s budget committee and currently is the Dean of Athletics and Recreational Programs and Services at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.