Francis Joseph BUDD

In 1961-62, Frank Budd was considered the fastest sprinter in the world. He set world records in 1961 in the 100 yards, the 220 yard straight, and ran on a world-record setting 4×100 relay team (with Hayes Jones, Paul Drayton, and the non-Olympian Charles Frazier). His winning time of 9.2 at the 1962 AAU Meet was a world record for the 100 y and broke the record of 9.3 which had first been set in 1948. Earlier in the year he had run 20.0 on a straight (220 y) in the Villanova vs. Quantico Marines meet. Budd was NCAA Champion for Villanova in the 220 in 1961 and won the 100 in both 1961-62. He was AAU 100 yard champion in 1961 and won the AAU indoor 60 y in 1961-62. He was world ranked #1 in the 100 in 1961. His sprint dominance was surpassed when Bob Hayes came to prominence in 1962.

In 1962, Budd was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles in 1962 as a wide receiver, and then was with the Washington Redskins in 1963 before moving to the Canadian Football League, where he played briefly for the Calgary Stampeders. He later worked for the New Jersey Department of Corrections before retiring in 2002.

Personal Bests: 100y – 9.2 (1961); 100 – 10.2 (1961); 220y – 20.0s (1962); 200 – 20.8 (1961).