[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E354-E355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LEAMON KING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2001

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute Leamon King, of 
California. Leamon has been recognized by Adelante, California Migrant 
Leadership Council and American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 as an 
outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the 
improvement of education opportunities for Latino Children in 
California.
  A lifelong educator in the Richgrove and Delano Elementary School 
Districts, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record Holder on the 100 yard 
dash and Delano High School graduate, Leamon has provided a positive 
role model for the local youth.
  Leamon was born on February 13, 1936 in Tulare, California. His 
parents were Loyd King and Beatrice Wallace King. They owned a farm in 
Earlimart, and Leamon lived there the first year of his life. His 
father, Loyd King, sold their farm in 1937, and the King family moved 
to Delano, California where Leamon completed his elementary and 
secondary education.
  Leamon began his education at Ellington School and later transferred 
to Fremont School. His mother wanted him to learn music and to play the 
saxophone. The only elementary school in Delano with a band at that 
time was Cecil Avenue Elementary School, so he transferred to this 
school. While attending Cecil Avenue and learning music, Leamon began 
to excel in track as a sprinter, and was ultimately elected student 
body president.
  Upon graduation from Cecil Avenue, Leamon transferred to Delano High 
School. He attended and won his first state meet at the age of fifteen 
during his freshman year in high school. During the next four years, 
Leamon King continued to excel as both a student and as a runner. This 
outstanding athlete provided a positive image for Delano High School 
and the City of Delano, as well as being a positive role model for 
students to emulate.
  Following graduation from Delano High School in June 1954, Leamon 
began to pursue higher education at University of California, Berkeley. 
He was the first child in his family to pursue a college education. The 
April 10, 1956 Delano Record stated, ``Delano Sprinter Ready for 
Olympics. Sophomore Leamon King, Delano High School graduate, a young 
man with wings on his feet, is California's newest hope for `World's 
Fastest Human' honors, and the Bear sprint sensation will have ample 
opportunity to earn such acclaim this spring.''
  The following month Leamon King tied the world record for the 100-
yard dash at the West Coast Relays in Fresno, California. Merle Reed 
Post 124 First Vice Commander Joe Viray and former educators Wayne and 
Wava Billingsley witnessed this spectacular event. They stated Leamon 
King's historic race was an awesome sight to see. It appeared as though 
Leamon King had wings on his feet as he majestically flew across the 
finish line and into the world record history book.
  The Delano Record dated May 15, 1956 stated the following: ``King's 
9.3 Dash Brings Another Record to City. Delano became the home of two 
world champions Saturday when Leamon King, local resident and former 
Delano High School track star, ran the 100 yards dash in 9.3 at the 
Fresno Relays to tie the world record. King's victory brought another 
world record to Delano, making it the home of one the fastest sprinters 
and the residence of Lon Spurrier, holder of the world record for the 
880. There is no city in the United States the size of Delano, which 
can boast two world champions.''
  Both Leamon King and Lon Spurrier were selected to participate in the 
1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Delano became the only city of 
its size in the United States to have two representatives make the 1956 
Olympic team. Because of the fame the City of Delano had received due 
to the athletic accomplishments of these two track stars, Leamon King 
and Lon Spurrier were the Grand Marshalls of the Eleventh Annual 
Harvest Holidays Parade on October 6, 1956.
  During the October 1956 United States Olympic camp practice meet at 
Ontario, California, Leamon King set his second world record when he 
tied the 10.1 time for the world record for 100 meters set by Ira 
Murchison and Willie Williams in Germany the previous summer. Following 
this splendid achievement, Leamon traveled to Australia to represent 
the City of Delano and the United States. Dr. Clifford Loader, Mayor of 
Delano, also traveled to Australia to give support to the two Delano 
Olympic participants.
  Delano High School Educator Gary Girard, who was serving as a staff 
writer for the Delano Record, stated in his article dated November 23, 
1956, ``King's Efforts Pulled U.S. to Victory in 400-Meter Relay at 
Olympic Games. Dr. Clifford Loader, Mayor of Delano, believes that it 
was the running of ex-Delano High star Leamon King that pulled the 
United States to victory in the 400-meter relay at the Olympic Games in 
Australia. The U.S. had stiff competition from Russia. Loader said that 
after the relay, Thane Baker, another member of the U.S. relay team ran 
over to hug King, realizing that it was his leg on the relay team that 
had won the race. King received a gold medal for his effort on the 
winning U.S. 400-meter relay quartet.''
  Following the Olympic games, the foursome set a New World record. In 
a meet with the British Empire, the U.S. team of King, Andy Stanfield, 
Thane Baker and Bobby Morrow set a new world mark of 1:23.8 for the 880 
yard relay. The old mark was 1:24.
  According to Leamon King, when he first arrived in Melbourne, he ran 
on grass and set a grass record. It appeared as though every time he 
ran, he would break a record.
  Bakersfield Californian Staff Writer Kevin Eubanks stated ``King's 
omission from the 100 meter team certainly didn't affect his moment in 
the spot light. The news that the world's fastest man was not competing 
in the 100 meter race was received as something of a shock by the rest 
of the sporting world.'' For his outstanding attributes as an athlete, 
Leamon King served as Grand Marshall for the Delano Cinco de Mayo 
Parade, was inducted into the University of California, Berkley Hall of 
Fame, and the Bob Elias Hall of Fame in Bakersfield, California.
  During the past twenty-nine years, Leamon King has served as an 
educator in the Delano area. Mr. King taught for two years in Richgrove 
prior to transferring to the Delano Union School District where he has 
served as educator for the past twenty-seven years. Mr. King has taught 
the sixth grade at both Terrace Elementary and Almond Tree Middle 
School. During his tenure as an educator for the Delano Union School 
District, Mr. Leamon King has proven to be an extraordinary educator 
and is highly respected. This educator has served as an excellent 
example for his peers, as well as our youth.
  On his sixty-fifth birthday this year, during Black History Month, 
the Delano Union School District named in Leamon's honor the athletic 
facilities at Almond Tree Middle School, which include the school gym 
and outside athletic facilities, including a track and basketball 
courts.

[[Page E355]]

  It is a pleasure to honor Leamon King, who has made and continues to 
make a difference for California youth and the Latino community.

                          ____________________