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). At the 400 meters medal ceremony, the three Americans wore black socks and black berets and raised their fists, but when the national anthem was played, they removed the berets and lowered their fists. 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 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. After his running career, James was also the head manager for Team USA at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships. In 1973, when the college was known as Stockton State College, he was assistant athletic director and coached the track team. Beginning in 1980, he became dean of athletics and recreational programs and services at Richard Stockton College. At Stockton, he helped secure training camps for the United States women’s Olympic basketball team in 1992, Saudi Arabia’s World Cup soccer team in 1994 and its Olympic soccer team in 1996. In 2002, the college renamed its track and soccer facility “G. Larry James Stadium.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Villanova and a master’s in public policy from Rutgers in 1987. He also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, achieving the rank of major. James lost his battle with colon cancer on his birthday, November 6, 2008 at the age of 61 Events 400 m - 43.97 Records Held World Record: 4x400m relay - 2:56.16 Championships 1968 Olympics: 400 m - 43.97 (2nd) 1968 Olympics: 1,600 m relay - 2:56.16 (1st) 1970 World University Games: 400 m hurdles (1st) 1970 World University Games: 1,600 m relay - 3:03.33 (1st) 1968 NCAA Indoors: 440 yd. (1st) 1969 NCAA Indoors: 440 yd. (1st) 1970 NCAA Indoors: 440 yd. (1st) 1970 NCAA Outdoors: 440 yd. (1st)