Cal Athletics
Hall Of Fame Track Legend Spurrier Passes Away
Distance Runner Competed In 1956 Summer Olympics
Lon Spurrier, a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame who ran for legendary coach Brutus Hamilton and competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, died last month. He was 83.
Spurrier set the world record in the 880-yard run at Edwards Stadium in 1955 and was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
“You couldn’t find a better person than Lon,” said fellow Cal Athletic Hall of Fame member Don Bowden, who was a lifelong friend of Spurrier. “He was a great Californian. He supported Cal track and Cal athletics his entire life. You’re blessed to have people like Lon in your life. A lot of people feel that way.”
At the 1956 Olympics, Spurrier finished sixth in the 800 meters while also was one of six members of the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team that won the gold medal. He anchored Cal’s two-mile relay team that broke the world record in 1956.
Spurrier won the Pacific Coast Conference 800 title in 1952 and tied for third in the NCAA that year. He was named an All-American.
“I will remember Lon as a great friend, a mentor and a very upbeat person,” Bowden said. “When you walked away from talking to Lon, you felt better. He was always an upbeat, fun guy to be around. And he was always there for you.”
Spurrier hailed from Delano, Calif., about a half-hour north of Bakersfield. He and his wife, Ida, had two children – a son, Randy and a daughter, Dana.
After graduating from Cal, he went on to become president of the Big C Society. He attended Harvard Business School and settled in Chatham, New Jersey before returning to the Bay Area and making his home in Orinda.
“Lon was and remains an Olympian forever,” said former Cal teammate Al Baeta. “He reflected the best of our university, the best of an athletic sportsman, the best as a teammate and especially, the best as a friend. He will be greatly missed and revered.
A memorial service will be held this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UC Berkeley Alumni House. Click here for more information.
Spurrier set the world record in the 880-yard run at Edwards Stadium in 1955 and was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
“You couldn’t find a better person than Lon,” said fellow Cal Athletic Hall of Fame member Don Bowden, who was a lifelong friend of Spurrier. “He was a great Californian. He supported Cal track and Cal athletics his entire life. You’re blessed to have people like Lon in your life. A lot of people feel that way.”
At the 1956 Olympics, Spurrier finished sixth in the 800 meters while also was one of six members of the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team that won the gold medal. He anchored Cal’s two-mile relay team that broke the world record in 1956.
Spurrier won the Pacific Coast Conference 800 title in 1952 and tied for third in the NCAA that year. He was named an All-American.
“I will remember Lon as a great friend, a mentor and a very upbeat person,” Bowden said. “When you walked away from talking to Lon, you felt better. He was always an upbeat, fun guy to be around. And he was always there for you.”
Spurrier hailed from Delano, Calif., about a half-hour north of Bakersfield. He and his wife, Ida, had two children – a son, Randy and a daughter, Dana.
After graduating from Cal, he went on to become president of the Big C Society. He attended Harvard Business School and settled in Chatham, New Jersey before returning to the Bay Area and making his home in Orinda.
“Lon was and remains an Olympian forever,” said former Cal teammate Al Baeta. “He reflected the best of our university, the best of an athletic sportsman, the best as a teammate and especially, the best as a friend. He will be greatly missed and revered.
A memorial service will be held this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UC Berkeley Alumni House. Click here for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment