R.I.P. Dr. Leroy Walker

[Halfmiler2]

Surprised no thread had been started. A gentleman who will be missed. I will always remember when his tiny NCCU squad (only 5 runners?) took the 1972 Penn Relays by storm winning three championship relays.

May he rest in peace.

[Marlow]

Indeed!

wiki tidbits:

former president of the United States Olympic Committee.
Coached Israel and Ethiopia in 1960, Trinidad and Tobago in 1964, Jamaica in 1968, and Kenya in 1972, United States in 1976.
1991 Eagle Award from the United States Sports Academy. their highest international honor for his significant contributions to international sport.

[Halfmiler2]

Also, President of USATF (then TAC/USA) 1984-1988

[dukehjsteve]

Back in the early 60's the North Carolina College ( as it was known then) team used to come over and practice on our Duke track on occasion. What I liked about this was that Coach Walker would actually come over to the HJ pit and coach ME sometimes !

I true Track icon that contributed so much to our sport.

[gh]

see front page for link to an insightful piece that we had on Dr. Walker when he was appointed as Olympic coach.

[bambam]

As someone who spent a good bit of time with him both because of my Olympic affiliations and the fact that we lived in the same city, I can only say that he was all the man there is.

[tandfman]

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/04/25/ ... unced.html

[Run DMC]

My Dad wrote an article for T&FN published May 11, 1971 before he was appointed Olympic Coach. He attended law school at NCCU and had great respect for Walker. Walker wrote him a personal letter thanking him for the article.

[bambam]

Attended the wake tonite at NC Central University for Dr. Walker. Fully crowded amphitheatre with people being turned away. A special man.