He competed on the track and field team at Lynchburg College in the 1960s, and graduated with a chemistry degree in 1970.[3] He later returned to Lynchburg College for a graduate degree in physical education and secondary education in 1975.[3] He is a member of the University of Lynchburg Sports Hall of Fame.[4]
He was selected for the Olympic team in 1980, but the U.S. boycotted the games. A 2014 alumni magazine of Virginia Tech, where he was a graduate student in 1980, described his disappointment: "You just spent four years making progress and improvement, and you end up not being able to use it. Between '76 and '80, I think I set seven world records. ... I was ready to compete."[5]
* From 1906 to 1979, events were conducted by the Amateur Athletic Union. Events from 1980 to 1992 were conducted under The Athletics Congress. Events thereafter were conducted by USA Track & Field.
Distances have varied as follows: Mile walk all years except 1933-1939 when 1500 m walk was contested, 2 miles walk until 1986 (3000 m walk since except for odd years since 2015), 3 miles walk until 1911 (5000 m walk since).
