Ulis Williams of Arizona State won the AAU 440 y relay in 1962 and 1963 and, after winning the NCAA title in 1963, he tied for first place in 1964. His best marks seemed to come in races he lost. In 1963, Williams ran a 45.6 440 y behind Adolph Plummer’s world record 44.9 at the Western Athletic Conference Meet and his career best 400 m also came finishing second to a world record. At the 1964 Final Trials, Mike Larrabee set that record with 44.9 and Williams was the runner-up in 45.0. At the Tokyo Olympics he was a bit disappointing with a fifth place finish in the individual 400 m, but won the gold medal as a member of the world record breaking relay team. He later served as a college professor and associate dean of Compton College, becoming President of Compton College from 1996-2005.
Personal Bests: 200 – 21.2y (1962); 400 – 45.0 (1964).
United States