Leamon King

Leamon King, born on February 13, 1936, was a remarkable American sprinter who made his mark in the world of athletics during the late 1950s. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, King achieved a significant milestone on October 20, 1956, when he jointly set the world record for the 100-meter sprint with a time of 10.1 seconds in Ontario, California. This achievement was shared with fellow athletes Willie Williams and Ira Murchison, and King repeated this impressive time just a week later in Santa Ana, California.

In addition to his 100-meter success, King also held the world record for the 100-yard dash, clocking in at 9.3 seconds. His athletic prowess was further showcased at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, where he contributed to the United States team’s gold medal victory in the 4 × 100 meter relay, running the second leg alongside Murchison, Thane Baker, and Bobby Morrow.

After a successful career in athletics, King transitioned to a fulfilling role as a schoolteacher in Delano, California. His journey in sports began at Delano High School, where he excelled as a student athlete, consistently breaking records and making finals at the CIF California State Meet in both the 100-yard and 220-yard dashes throughout his four years, winning the 100 once and the 220 twice.