Payton Jordan moving down coast to Laguna Beach
Payton Jordan, the masters sprint god and subject of a recent biography, is moving from Santa Barbara to the Orange County town of Laguna Beach, (later correction: He moved to Leisure World in Laguna Woods.) according to this gem of an article. Payton is moving this week, John Zant writes, to be closer to his two daughters and their families. “He’s leaving with good memories but sad ones, too.” He had been living with his late wife, Marge, at the retirement community of Vista Del Monte. Now 90, Payton already has indicated he won’t compete again in track. My hope: that he graces local meets as a spectator, offering the enthusiastic support and wisdom that made him a coaching legend and friend to thousands.
No doubt he’s still grieving for Marge, who died last November.
“We were very happy here,” Payton told the Santa Barbara Independent. “I’m leaving lots of great friends, but emotionally this change will do me good. At 90, I’m reflective on how lucky I’ve been and how good my life has been because of the people around me.”
Hey, Payton! We love you, too!
Stop by a local meet and say hi!
 Payton and Ken at 1997 San Jose masters nationals.
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2 Responses
Payton: I wish you the best in your new residence.It seems that it was yesterday when we were competing in the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia and I had the privilege to meet and enjoy you and your sweet wife Margie.With admiration and affection. Juan Bustamante.
Payton is a great guy and a true gentleman. I remember training at Stanford with Steve Davis in 1970 about a week before the NCAA championship. He and Payton were standing out in the field talking. I had taken two throws and was about to take a third. They got wrapped up in their conversation. I threw and hit Steve in the head. Luckily, he saw it coming and was moving away from it as it hit. Payton didn’t kill me, even though I almost took out his best discus thrower.
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