Richard Wayne HOWARD

Dick Howard first took up track when in the service; after he had served his two years he ran the low hurdles for Compton College in 1957. The following season he placed fourth in the AAU 440y hurdles in June, after sustaining a serious back injury in an automobile accident in April. He then enrolled at the University of New Mexico and in 1959, Howard won the AAU and the NCAA, and finished second in the Pan-Am Games and in the meet against the USSR. In the pre-Olympic meets in 1960, he finished second to Glenn Davis at both the AAU and the Final Trials and, although he brought his career best down to 49.7 at the Rome Games, he was beaten not only by Davis but also Cliff Cushman. Cushman and Howard both met tragic ends – Cushman was killed in Vietnam and Howard died from a heroin overdose. He had earlier served part of a 7-year sentence on drug charges.

Personal Bests: 440y – 47.4 (1959); 120yH – 14.2 (1960); 400H – 49.90 (1960).