Hall of Fame

Dr. LeRoy T. Walker was the first African American coach of a U.S. Olympic team and the first African American president of the United States Olympic Committee. Born in Atlanta, Walker was the youngest of 13 children and played basketball, football and track. He began coaching track for American universities, as well as a number of foreign Olympic teams. Walker also served as chairman of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States’ men’s track and field committee, before making history at the Olympic Games Montreal 1976 as the first African American coach for a U.S. Olympic team. He led the U.S. men’s track and field team to medal in 19 different events and earn six gold medals. Walker was named president of the USOC in 1992 and serving until 1996. He received the Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee, the highest honor awarded by the IOC, and earned 15 honorary degrees. Walker passed away on April 23, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina.