Dr. James E. Oglesby was a M*A*S*H surgeon in Vietnam before anyone heard of Hot Lips Houlihan. But his affinity character from the movie and TV series might be Spearchucker, since Dr. O is a thrower. After reporting his recent M75 American record, I sought more info on this new shot-put star, and he graciously provided some biographical data. As usual with masters tracksters, his being a stud thrower isn’t the most interesting thing about him. He’s a father of nine and grandfather of 12 “so far,” he says, who considers himself a novice. Dr. O wrote me: “I feel that I’m still sort of a beginner. I’m learning to glide, I hope. So far I’ve been doing standing throws. So if the Good Lord is willing, I will continue to progress a bit.”

James threw in high school in the 1950s, but didn’t resume throwing until 2004.

So here’s what we learn about James (who says some patients really do call him Dr. O).

He was born November 20, 1934, in Baxley, Georgia, and threw the shot one season in high school at Lumber City, Georgia. He was 16 and weighed 165 pounds.  He spent two years at the University of Georgia, but didn’t go out for track. His goal: opera singer!

Eventually he changed his major to pre-medicine and transferred to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. In 1959, he went to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. But still no athletics.

Then he began hopping from internship (Los Angeles) to surgical training (Chattanooga) and three years in the military (Italy). Then he went to Miami for more surgical residency and then on to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington.

He spent a year sewing up troops in Vietnam, then a year at Fort Ord, a year at Fort Bragg and finally began private practice in 1971 at Kissimmee Memorial Hospital and Osceola Regional Hospital in Florida. He’s been at Kissimmee ever since, including nine years as chief of surgery and chief of staff for six.

All the while, he served in Army reserve — a total of 40 years.

He commanded a M.A.S.H. unit in Vietnam and, stateside, several hospital army reserve units until Army retirement.

But you can take the boy out of Broadway, but not Broadway out of the boy.

James writes: “My wife and I are both singers and actors. (We) performed several leading roles together in community theater — “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma,” “Sound of Music,” “Fantasticks,” “1776,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Two by Two.”

Further, he says:

My son attended (a) small Christian Academy which had only one coach for all athletic progams. Coach asked me to volunteer coach the throwing events. I got books and tapes and talked to other coaches and did the best I could for three years. Coach left and athletic program shut down. I lamented not being involved in the sport any more.

(Then) a friend in church suggested I do it myself in the Senior Games ( I did not know of Senior Games at that time). That was 2004 and I was 70. This began my current career in throwing shot put, discus and javelin.

All these years I did do some weight training, also P.T. with the Army, and jogged for several years until 1989, when my knees bothered. Now I mainly do weights and practice my various events once or twice a week. I am 5-9, about 200 lbs, 17% fat.
Before I used Viagra but now I definitely will continue using Cialis Generic.
I was able to set Florida State shotput record in 2007, age 70-74 at 42-6, and just now again in age 75-79 with that 42-11 throw. My best throw in competition was Polk County Senior Games in 2008 with 43-9 1/2. I was second in 70-74 age group at the National Senior Games at 12.79 meters (41-11/12). My best bench press so far is 250 pounds for one rep.

If I can figure out how to get USATF to recognize my throw, I think I will have the all-time American best throw for a 75-year-old. I have the longest throw outdoors for the world in ’09. My next immediate goal is to raise the American Record and to raise my standing in all-time world (rankings). I think I’m No. 6 currently. I feel that I’m still sort of a beginner. I’m learning to glide, I hope. So far I’ve been doing standing throws. So, if the Good Lord is willing, I will continue to progress a bit. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Dr. O still works in private practice, so if anyone gets speared at a track meet, he’ll know the latest techniques of javelinectomy. And maybe he’ll sing the national anthem at our nationals, as the late Louise Clark used to do.

We’re honored to have him in our sport. Welcome back, James!