[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE LATE LARRY BLACK, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the passing of a Miami native and a sports legend, sprint 
star Larry Black, who died last Wednesday, February 15, 2006.
  Born on July 20, 1951 in Miami, Florida, Larry Black was an athlete 
of extraordinary ability and striking grace. He didn't run as fast as 
the wind; he was faster.
  While still a student at North Carolina Central University, Larry 
Black won two medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He won a gold 
medal for running the lead leg of Team USA's winning the 4x400 relay 
squad, and he also captured the silver medal in the 200 meters event, 
which he ran in 20.19 seconds.
  Larry Black was an 11-time collegiate All-American who won four 
individual national championships and was a part of 3 national 
championship relay teams. He won NCAA outdoor titles in 1971 (220-yard) 
and 1972 (200m), and the NAIA indoor 60-yard dash crown in 1974. Black 
also set the NAIA Championship meet record in the 200m dash in 1972 
(20.0 seconds) to help the Eagles win the 1972 NAIA Outdoor Track & 
Field Championship in Billings, Montana. His record still stands today.
  As a relay team member, Black won national championships in the 1970 
NCAA outdoor 440-yard relay and the 1972 NAIA 4x100m (39.5 seconds) and 
4x400m (3:04.8 minutes) relays. Both of these relay times still stand 
as meet records for hand-timing. For his efforts, he was selected as 
the 1972 NAIA Championships Herbert B. Marett Outstanding Performer. 
For the last 10 years, Black has been a personal trainer in Coral 
Gables.
  Larry Black is survived by his wife Cheresse, 4 daughters and 2 
grandsons. I know that my colleagues join me in sending to Larry 
Black's family our deepest condolences for their loss, and in 
celebrating the life of a man of extraordinary ability who had the 
discipline and desire to hone his talents so finely that he became the 
best in the nation and in the world.

                          ____________________