Jimmy Upton
Encyclopedia
James Saunders "Jimmy" Upton (August 6, 1949 - March 17, 2003) was a college
and high school
track
star from Minden, Louisiana
, who was inducted into the University of Louisiana at Monroe
Hall of Fame. In 1971, Upton was a United States Track and Field Federation All-American hurdler. He had the second best time ever at ULM in the Intermediate Hurdles.
Upton was born to Rufus Horace Upton (1924-1983) and the former Mary Berry (born 1928) in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish, in northwestern Louisiana. Rufus Upton was a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II
. Upton graduated from Minden High School
in 1967. He was in the school choir
, the Future Business Leaders of America, and the Latin
Club. He played basketball
too, but it was as a track runner, under Coach William O. "Bill" Huth, that he most excelled.
In 1967, Upton ran in the Golden West Relays in San Francisco in what was considered the most competitive track meet in the country. He ran in the nationals 200-yard race and in the 180-yard low hurdle race. He finished in fourth place in the hurdles race with a time of 18.8 seconds. The winner, William "Bill" Tipton of Pontiac
Central High School in Pontiac, Michigan
, set a new national record of 18.3. Upton's was the fourth fastest ever for a race on a turn. R. W. "Bob" Jarvis an official of the Golden West Relays, in an email to T.D.Carey 12/2006 said that the runners were aided by a 3.74 m.p.h. wind. The maximum allowable wind speed is 4.473 m.p.h. Upton capped his high school career by being named All-American in track.
After high school, Upton attended Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge on a track scholarship
for his freshman year. He ran the maximum five events permitted while he was on the LSU track team. He transferred to ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana State College, where Robert E. "Bob" Groseclose (1920-2002) was his coach
. Groseclose coached track at ULM for twenty-nine years, a record duration among all coaches in all sports at the university. In 1996, ULM named its track field to honor Groseclose, a native Texan
. Upton graduated from ULM and was a member of the university alumni association.
At ULM, Upton was shifted to the longer hurdle race, the 440-yard or 400-meter hurdles. He was named an NCAA All-American in 1972. Only one other athlete from his hometown of Minden, James Britt, of the LSU football team, had received "All-American" designation. Some of Upton's records still stand at ULM. In 1994, he was inducted into the ULM athletic Hall of Fame and the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was inducted into the ULM Graduate N Club.
At the time of his death, Upton was a safety director for a trucking
company. He was divorce
d. He was survived by his mother; a son Timothy French "Tim" Upton (born 1971), a New Orleans lawyer
, and his wife, Patricia Upton; a daughter, Allison Upton Cooper and husband, Brett Cooper, of Jena
, the seat of La Salle Parish; sister, Ellen Upton Madden of Bossier City
, and one grandchild.
Services were held on March 20, 2003, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden with Methodist minister Joe Hunter officiating. Upton is interred next to his father in the Minden Cemetery
.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
star from Minden, Louisiana
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, who was inducted into the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
Hall of Fame. In 1971, Upton was a United States Track and Field Federation All-American hurdler. He had the second best time ever at ULM in the Intermediate Hurdles.
Upton was born to Rufus Horace Upton (1924-1983) and the former Mary Berry (born 1928) in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish, in northwestern Louisiana. Rufus Upton was a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upton graduated from Minden High School
Minden High School (Minden, Louisiana)
Minden High School is the public secondary educational institution in Minden, a small city of 13,000 and the seat of Webster Parish located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana...
in 1967. He was in the school choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, the Future Business Leaders of America, and the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Club. He played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
too, but it was as a track runner, under Coach William O. "Bill" Huth, that he most excelled.
In 1967, Upton ran in the Golden West Relays in San Francisco in what was considered the most competitive track meet in the country. He ran in the nationals 200-yard race and in the 180-yard low hurdle race. He finished in fourth place in the hurdles race with a time of 18.8 seconds. The winner, William "Bill" Tipton of Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
Central High School in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, set a new national record of 18.3. Upton's was the fourth fastest ever for a race on a turn. R. W. "Bob" Jarvis an official of the Golden West Relays, in an email to T.D.Carey 12/2006 said that the runners were aided by a 3.74 m.p.h. wind. The maximum allowable wind speed is 4.473 m.p.h. Upton capped his high school career by being named All-American in track.
After high school, Upton attended Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge on a track scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
for his freshman year. He ran the maximum five events permitted while he was on the LSU track team. He transferred to ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana State College, where Robert E. "Bob" Groseclose (1920-2002) was his coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. Groseclose coached track at ULM for twenty-nine years, a record duration among all coaches in all sports at the university. In 1996, ULM named its track field to honor Groseclose, a native Texan
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Upton graduated from ULM and was a member of the university alumni association.
At ULM, Upton was shifted to the longer hurdle race, the 440-yard or 400-meter hurdles. He was named an NCAA All-American in 1972. Only one other athlete from his hometown of Minden, James Britt, of the LSU football team, had received "All-American" designation. Some of Upton's records still stand at ULM. In 1994, he was inducted into the ULM athletic Hall of Fame and the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was inducted into the ULM Graduate N Club.
At the time of his death, Upton was a safety director for a trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
company. He was divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d. He was survived by his mother; a son Timothy French "Tim" Upton (born 1971), a New Orleans lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and his wife, Patricia Upton; a daughter, Allison Upton Cooper and husband, Brett Cooper, of Jena
Jena, Louisiana
Jena is a town in and the parish seat of La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,971 at the 2000 census.In September 2006, Jena became the focus of national news stories in the United States for a racial controversy involving its school system and a group of students known...
, the seat of La Salle Parish; sister, Ellen Upton Madden of Bossier City
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
, and one grandchild.
Minden Cemetery
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836...
.