Payton Jordan dies at 91; greatest masters sprinter, backer

Payton Jordan was The Man in masters track.

Hall of Famer Payton Jordan, one of the most prolific masters record-setters in history and certainly our greatest age-group sprinter, died of cancer yesterday at his new home in Laguna Hills, according to news reports and his daughter. He would have turned 92 in mid-March. This is a stunning loss, and a personal blow to many, including me. I idolized him. Although obituaries will focus on his coaching career and his legendary 1968 Olympic team, I will remember him as a great cheerleader for masters track and a teller of amazing stories. I chatted with him a half a dozen times since meeting him in 1997 at the San Jose masters nationals, where he set an M80 world record at 200 meters that still stands. His picture graces my Wikipedia entry on masters track. Payton wouldn’t admit it, but his greatest disappointment may have been missing the Olympics during World War II (had they been held). He would have medaled.


In November 2007, he was the honored guest of the Southern California Striders masters track team, where accounts of his health battle were spellbinding. I took pictures of him there, and reported on his talk.

In 1996, Payton was elected to the first-ever class of the USATF Masters Track & Field Hall of Fame. He’s also in the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

He’s still the listed M80 world record holder in the 100 (14.35) and 200 (30.89), but he no doubt would have extended his record streak had he not retired to care for his cancer-stricken wife, Marge, who died in 2006.

He won his share of world masters titles as well, sweeping the M70 1, 2 and 4 at the Eugene world meet in 1989 (13.28, 27.09 and 66.02) — repeating his earlier triple at the WAVA world meet in Melbourne.

Pete Mundle’s Masters Age Records chronicles his sprint bests over the years.

In the 100-meter dash:

At age 55 in 1972, he clocked 11.6 hand-timed.
Age 56: 11.6 again
Age 57: 11.6 again!
Age 58: 11.9
Age 59: 11.7
Age 60: 12.0
Age 61: 11.8
Age 62: 12.3
Age 63: 12.0
Age 64: 12.3
Age 65: 12.60
Age 66: 12.56
Age 67: 13.0
Age 68: 13.0
Age 70: 13.0
Age 71: 13.09
Age 72: 13.1
Age 73: 13.47
Age 74: 12.91
Age 75: 13.4
Age 77: 14.70
Age 78: 14.78
Age 80: 14.35
Age 81: 14.52

The Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1983, lists some of Payton’s masters records:

    *  World 100m Masters Record
          o M70: 12.91
          o M75: 13.72
          o M80: 14.65
    * World 200m Masters Record
          o M70: 26.8
          o M75: 28.14
          o M80: 30.89
    * American 100m Masters Record
          o M60: 11.8
          o M65: 12.6
          o M70: 12.91
          o M75: 13.72
          o M80: 14.65
    * American 200m Masters Record
          o M70: 26.8
          o M75: 28.14
          o M80: 30.89

Here is the USATF news release on Payton’s passing. And here is one from Stanford University.

Palo Alto Online, a news source for Stanford (where Payton coached) posted this marvelous obituary:

Track coach legend Payton Jordan dies
He coached the record-setting 1968 U.S. Olympic track and field team; brought 1962 U.S.-Russia meet to Stanford

by Keith Peters
Palo Alto Online Staff

To anyone who knew him, Payton Jordan was simply called Coach. A friend to many and an innovator when it came to track and field, Jordan was synonymous with the sport. He was the coach of the record-setting 1968 U.S. Olympic track and field team and the head coach at Stanford for 23 years. On Thursday, one of the sport’s most famous personalities died at age 91.

Jordan was born in Whittier, Calif., on March 19, 1917. He died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills in Southern California, daughter Cheryl Melville said.

In a letter dated Dec. 15, 2008, Jordan wrote about his latest challenge: “Have faced a few health problems, but just another challenge that I’m facing with a positive attitude, thus all will be well. Now is the time to be jolly.”

In “Champions for Life,” a book written about his life by two former Stanford track and field teammates Jack Scott and Jim Ward, Jordan was summed up thusly by Bob Murphy, a former Sports Information Director and Athletic Director at Stanford:

“The world champion,” Murphy wrote, “was conceived for people like Payton Jordan. He was a champion as a youngster growing up in Southern California and when he attended the University of Southern California. He coached an endless stream of champions at Occidental College and at Stanford for many years. Payton will never be forgotten as Head Coach of the 1968 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team. Later, he became a champion beyond all others in Masters competition.

“He always has been known as ‘Coach,’ but it should be noted that his coaching has always extended far beyond the limits of a running track or any kind of field. His depth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm made an attentive student-athlete appreciate that any horizon of opportunity was within reach with solid preparation and hard work.

“For Payton, the term coach is too limited. He has been, and always will be, an enormous source of inspiration and confidence. In addition, Payton has been an organizer, a showman, a promoter, a businessman, a counselor — and, if you are one of those so fortunate, a very special friend . . . He has been our Champion for years.”

Jordan led the U.S. track team to a record 24 medals, 12 of them gold, at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He served as Stanford’s track and field coach from 1957-79 and coached seven Olympians, six world recordholders and six national champions. Earlier this decade, he had a Stanford-based track meet named after him — the Payton Jordan U.S. Open — and the veteran often attended. A college meet on The Farm each spring now carries his name — the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational.

As landmarks go, Jordan stood as tall as Hoover Tower with his accomplishments and influence going beyond geographical barriers.

Jordan was the driving force behind the legendary USA-USSR track meet at Stanford Stadium in 1962. The meet attracted 150,000 spectators over two days and gave American track and field fans their first look at Russian athletes. Jordan was also the meet director for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials at Stanford.

Years ago, Jordan recalled how his ’68 Olympic team excelled despite some black athletes threatening to boycott the games over a push for civil rights.

“We just sat down and talked about how hard everyone worked for so long to get ready for this lifetime opportunity,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1989. “It was like the high altitude in Mexico City — something we weren’t used to — or like an injury. It was just something we had to work through and overcome.”

Before his coaching career, Jordan broke world records at the University of Southern California — in the 440-yard relay in 1938 and the 100-yard dash on grass in 1941. His records stood for decades. He also played football for USC and played in the 1939 Rose Bowl.

Instead of competing in the 1940 and 1944 Olympics, which were canceled due to World War II, Jordan joined the Navy.

After retirement, he laced up his running shoes to compete in masters races. He set six world age-group records in the sprints. In 1997, he set the last of his world records in the 100 meters (14.65) and 200 meters (30.89). His final masters world mark came in the 100-yard dash at the 1998 Penn Relays at age 80. With his shock of white hair and tanned complexion, Jordan was forever the perfect example of how an athlete could age gracefully while st
ill being competitive.

He is a member of countless Halls of Fame, including Stanford, USC, USA Track & Field, and Mt. SAC Relays. He was awarded the Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award by the U.S. Sports Academy in 1999.

He was married to his wife, Marge, for 66 years. She passed away in 2006. Jordan had been battling the effects of cancer in recent years, but was always upbeat in his conversations throughout his fight.

John Wooden, the legendary former UCLA basketball coach who is in his late 90s, said of Jordan in “Champions for Life”:

“He is one of the finest teachers of sports. However, his knowledge and ability to teach are only part of his success. Equally important are his love and consideration for the athletes who have been fortunate to be under his supervision. The exemplary personal life he has lived serves as a role model for all those who know him.”

In June 2007, a writer for a local Santa Barbara paper wrote this great profile:

Sprinter Payton Jordan Lives a Masterful Life
The Sweetness of the Silver Streak

By John Zant
Thursday, June 28, 2007

The names Payton and Jordan go together like Sweetness and Air, which happen to be the nicknames of Chicago sports legends Walter Payton and Michael Jordan. But long before they made headlines, a lad named Payton Jordan from Pasadena was one of the fastest human beings you never heard of. He came into his prime in 1940, when the world was too preoccupied with invasions and air raids to bother with the Olympic Games.

Payton Jordan’s commitment to the athletic life grew stronger during those times. After graduating from USC, where he was captain of the track team and a member of the 1939 Rose Bowl football team, he continued competing as a sprinter and was a Service All-America football player during World War II. Then he began a storied career as a coach at Occidental College and Stanford University. He reached the pinnacle of his profession when he was appointed head coach of the U.S. track and field team that achieved a record haul of gold medals at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

In the next decade, he discovered Masters competition. He still had the ability to accelerate down the track, lifting his knees high. With his blond hair turning shiny, Jordan became known as the Silver Streak. He set numerous world sprinting records for men from age 55 on up.

That phase of his life was winding down nine years ago when Jordan and his wife, Marge, moved to Santa Barbara. They were familiar with the city from visiting former Stanford football coach “Cactus” Jack Curtice, who ended his career at UCSB. They joined the retirement community at Vista Del Monte. Payton hung out at the City College track, dispensing advice and encouragement to any athlete who sought his counsel.

He could rhapsodize about sports. “For all its warts, it’s one of the wonderful ways to bring vitality into the world,” Jordan said. “Young people striving to be the best … men and women expressing themselves to the fullest. You put on those running shorts and toe the line. You look down the track, alone in your lane. There’s nobody that can substitute for you, no one to give you more courage. There’s just the tape and the stopwatch. No excuses. No second chances.”

He set his last world record in the 100-meter dash at the Penn Relays in 1998.

“I hadn’t been there at Franklin Field since 1941 when I won the national championship (in 10.3 seconds),” he said. “There was the same crowd, the same brick wall, the same hair-raising noise. When I went to the line I had the same crazy emotional feelings: ‘This is the time. I’ve got to perform. This is life. Wow! I’m enjoying this.'”

The 81-year-old Silver Streak bolted down the track and hit the finish line in 14.52 seconds. Somebody computed that it was equivalent to 9.83 (then the fastest ever recorded) by a sprinter in his prime.

Vista Del Monte opened its Fitness and Aquatic Center for seniors in 2000. Jordan was an avatar in their midst. He was Sweetness, ever ready to smile, and Air, encouraging his peers to engage in activities that will pump oxygen into their lungs.

“His life is so inspirational,” said Laurie Yttri, executive director at Vista Del Monte. “He takes his health and activity level seriously, but there’s no barrier to beginners because of his spirit and interpersonal skills. He’s been a great friend. We’ll miss him.”

Payton Jordan is moving this week to Laguna Beach, closer to his two daughters and their families. He’s leaving with good memories but sad ones too. Marge died last November.

“We were very happy here,” he said. “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.”

They were lucky too.

Here’s Payton with Joy Upshaw-Margerum and her dad, Monte Upshaw:

 
And Payton as we’ll never forget him — setting one of his many records (this one being the M80 world record for 200 meters at San Jose in 1997): 

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February 6, 2009

16 Responses

  1. peter taylor - February 6, 2009

    Take a look back at the National Masters News from 1997 that reports on the nationals in San Jose. You will see “the man” winning the age-graded 100 in brilliant style. I will now go back and look at some of the postcards that Payton sent me in the last several years.
    There has never been anyone else like Payton, never.

  2. Doug Smith - February 6, 2009

    As a senior in high school (1957) I received a hand written letter from Coach Jordan each week, encouraging me, and enticing me to attend Stanford, where he was the new head coach, after coaching at Occidental for nine years. I cherished those letters.
    He became a close neighbor of my wife and myself when he moved to southern Orange County (CA) two years ago after his wife, Marge, passed away while they resided in Santa Barbara . We visited with him on several occasions, and taking a break from talking track with me, he would discuss different roses with my wife, as they shared a mutual love of those beautiful flowering bushes.
    Famous and world renown for his coaching abilities and sprinting successes, he still had the time to talk to friends and strangers, alike. He cared for others, no doubt about it.
    I remember him as a role model for all men. He dearly loved his wife, and they were married for 66 years. What a caring man, who wanted to know how and what you were doing. Not only will he be missed by his family, but the rest of us who where fortunate to have known him.
    God Bless you, Payt!

  3. Mark Cleary - February 6, 2009

    I was very fortunate to have lunch two months ago in December with Payton & his friend John at the Olive Garden near his home.He was a remarkable man vary candid in his conversation and very humble for a man with so many gifts. He told me that if he starter feeling better that he might compete again–what a spirit! One of the greatest men I have had the privilege of knowing.

  4. Terry Howell - February 6, 2009

    I had the pleasure of meeting Payton during his stay in Santa Barbara. I was the distance coach for Santa Barbara City College at the time and Payton would stop by and volunteer his time, wisdom and insight to all the coaches and athletes. I remember once having a conversation with him regarding the coaching methods of Percy Cerutty and Lydiard. The very next day he shows up to the track and provides me photo copies of several letters hand witten to him from Cerutty describing the workout efforts of Elliott and others in his training group. The letters spoke of workouts, time trials and the very real possibility that Elliott might make a trip to the U.S. to train and race. A nicer man I have never met!

  5. Anonymous - February 6, 2009

    His times as a 70 year old are incredible !

  6. Tom Fahey - February 6, 2009

    I often trained at Stanford as a college and open discus thrower (I didn’t go to Stanford). He was always willing to help and was a true gentleman. He is among the greatest masters athletes of all time. He made a difference to our sport. I am sad to see him go, but he certainly lived a great life.

  7. Ken Stone - February 6, 2009

    Funeral or memorial service arrangements have yet to be announced. When this information comes in, I’ll share it.
    Thanks to all who contribute memories on this giant of a man.

  8. David E. Ortman - February 6, 2009

    FR: David E. Ortman (M55) Seattle, WA
    Credit Jordan with saving the Stanford Football program. Jordan, retired Stanford track coach, tells the story in an interview by John Blanchette of the Spokesman-Review (WA) as part of an August 14th article on the 1992 Spokane National Masters Championships (you remember the 104 degree afternoons, don’t you?).
    See my False Start Column at:
    http://www.geocities.com/ortmanmarchand/fsh.html
    for a recap of the article on Jordan’s views on who is killing track and field.

  9. Rick Brown - February 7, 2009

    As a high school sprinter growing up in the Bay Area, my dream was to someday attend Stanford and run for Coach Jordan. While attending Jr College, I had a chance to run at Stanford in front of Coach Jordan with the hope of impressing him…unfortunately, for the only time in my life, I false started out of the 100. Coach Jordan has been an influence to me through my 30+ years of coaching and was my main influence in deciding to get back into competitive shape in hopes of achieving some of his success at the Masters level.
    The world needs more men like Coach Jordan and he will be missed. God Bless.

  10. Peter Mogg - February 9, 2009

    Payton Jordan is a name that goes back as far as I can remember as a track runner. I finally met him in person at the 1997 Nationals in San Jose. After his 200m world record, I was completely blown away. I went over to him to express my deep appreciation of his talent and the legend that he was. Even today, I still tell the story of how amazing his 30.9 time was for a man of 80 years old. That along with Ralph Romain’s 400 meter record at age 65 remain in my mind as two of the greatest masters record.
    We will miss Payton, but thanks for the memories.

  11. Bill Collins - February 9, 2009

    Mr. Payton Jordan, A Very dear friend, that always shared kind words with me. We had some great races in the age graded 100 meters. I just loved being in his presence, he set the stage for all of us to follow, a great competitor, who gave all he had in every race. Off the track he was also a wealth of knowledge on life as well as track, he would help you without asking. Your shoes will never be filled, rest well my friend, you ran a great race of life.

  12. Ken Stone - February 10, 2009

    I’m posting this note on behalf of David Pain, the founder of masters track.
    David writes:
    I am deeply shocked and saddened with the loss of the icon of masters athletics with the passing of Payton Jordan who would have turned 92 in March. I last saw Payton at my 86th birthday celebration when Al Sheahen brought Payton to my party in San Diego. In all my years of dealing with masters athletes, Payton was always one of the most thoughtful, sincere, considerate, gracious and personable people I have known.
    On June 19, 1939, Payton appeared on the cover of Life magazine. In 1989, forty years later, when San Diego hosted the Masters National Track and Field Championships, I borrowed the picture from him and published it in the meet program highlighting his participation.
    Unfortunately, the printer lost the original picture and I was forced to acknowledge to Payton that it had been lost. I felt horrible about the loss. The printer subsequently found the picture and I was eventually able to return it to Payton. Although it was an irreplaceable bit of his memorabilia, he was totally gracious when informed of its apparent loss. That demonstrated what kind of a person Payton truly was.
    Payton’s correspondence with me was always a joy to receive even when he was forced to decline my invitations.
    Loss of Payton is a great loss to masters athletics and I sincerely miss this remarkable man.

  13. Al Sheahen - February 10, 2009

    Ken:
    In the summer of 2007, I picked up Payton Jordan at his Laguna Hills home. Along with Pete Mundle and his wife Joyce, we drove to San Diego to celebrate David Pain’s 85th birthday.
    Payton seemed as sharp as ever, and was treated as an icon by the 100-or-so attendees.
    Payton was the model for creating the Masters Age-Graded Tables in the 100, 200, and 400. We first marked his times at his various ages at the upper end of our scale and then used the times of open record-holders, such as Carl Lewis, at the bottom end. We then drew the appropriate line to establish all the sprint times for the tables which, as far as I know, are still used today.
    When we would run an age-graded race at the Nationals — pitting the winners of each age group against each other, with the oldest getting a distance handicap — Payton was usually the winner, besting superstars like Bill Collins and Phil Raschker.
    It’s a major loss for Masters Track & Field.
    Al Sheahen

  14. Bill Kaspari - February 12, 2009

    Hi Ken,
    I was a jogger for years, decided to get into sprinting a couple of years ago and ran my first “official” race at age 72. I was fortunate enough to meet Joy Upshaw-Margerum and to have her as a coach.
    I have been friends with Bob Stoecker for years, and last June Bob and I went to Pasadena to compete in the California Senior Games there. After competing, Bob, who has kept in touch with Payton Jordan since his college days at Stanford, called Payton and asked if we could take him to dinner. Payton enthusiastically agreed
    We went to his house and, after looking at some of his memorabilia, took him to one of his favorite restaurants, where they told us there would be a 20 minute wait. We were in the waiting area with several other people and Bob says “Payton, Bill is having trouble with his starts. Can you give him some pointers?”
    “Sure” was the enthusiastic reply – “show me what you’re doing now, Bill”.
    I began to describe how I got into the blocks, etc. when Payton goes “No, No”. He stands up, gets on the floor and assumes the starting position, all the while describing how to position each foot, the angle your legs should be, what to do with your arms, etc. and does a couple of starts. You can imagine what the other people thought about this 91 year old guy.
    After dinner we went back to Payton’s house and, after we each consumed a large bowl of ice cream, Payton says “OK, Bill, show me your starts”. I got on the floor and assumed what I thought was the correct position. Payton gets up, grabs me by my belt in the back and says “Pick up your butt more” and lifts up my back end. Then he gets on the floor next to me and demonstrates a couple of starts. He was still really quick. Noting this, Stoecker says with a grin “Payton, you still have it – you haven’t lost any of your speed”.
    I loved Payton’s reply: “You know guys, I don’t want to rust away, I want to burn out”. I think many of us understand. Bob said to me recently
    “You know Bill, you are probably the last person to get a personal coaching lesson from Payton”.
    That weekend will always be one of my greatest memories. Thanks Payton.
    Bill Kaspari

  15. Ken Stone - February 20, 2009

    Another warm and touching remembrance of Payton appears in a column by Joe King in a Bay Area newspaper:
    http://www.mercurynews.com/alamedacounty/ci_11742233

  16. Jack G. Chamberlain - March 11, 2009

    I knew Payton Jordan as our freshman FOOTBALL COACH at Occidental College in 1951…he was a great teacher and an outstanding example of constant conditioning and good sportmanship..spent time with him at reunions…loss of a great person

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