The great Payton Jordan dies

[Charlie_Francis]

@lkh

I didn’t see Payton as much as Tommie Smith (Santa Monica College puts on many summer track meets, including 5 this coming summer), but when you met Payton Jordan without being acquainted with him before, the way he was STILL put together physically at 85+ was nothing short of shocking. He had the shoulders and upper arms of a man in his 50’s. He was active with the Santa Barbara Athletic Association for some time and you could see him compete in, say, a 200, and then after the meet he would go run many reps of stadium stairs, something I imagine Charlie might be somewhat acquainted with from earlier years.

At 85 he was fighting cancer as well. He’d had several bouts.