James Corson

James Corson, born on January fourteenth, nineteen oh six, was a distinguished American track and field athlete, educator, and coach. He made his mark in athletics by competing in the discus throw at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, where he proudly secured a bronze medal for the United States.

Raised in Modesto, California, Corson pursued higher education at the College of the Pacific, now known as the University of the Pacific, in Stockton. There, he not only excelled academically but also showcased his athletic prowess as a tackle on the Pacific Tigers football team and earned letters in track.

In nineteen twenty-seven, Corson began his coaching career as an assistant in football and track at Modesto Junior College. By nineteen twenty-nine, he had transitioned to the College of the Pacific, where he served as the varsity track coach and assistant dean of men. His academic journey continued as he obtained a master's degree from the University of Southern California and later received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater.

Throughout his career, Corson held various significant positions, including coaching the football team at Stockton Junior College in nineteen thirty-seven and serving as the superintendent of Modesto's schools from nineteen forty-seven to nineteen sixty. In the early seventies, he took on the role of interim president at Willamette University.

James Corson passed away on November twelfth, nineteen eighty-one, in a Burlingame, California hospital after suffering a stroke earlier that year. His contributions to athletics and education left a lasting legacy.