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Herb McKenley

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Herb McKenley Famous memorial

Birth
Pleasant Valley, Clarendon, Jamaica
Death
26 Nov 2007 (aged 85)
Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica
Burial
Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was one of the first Jamaicans to win an Olympic Medal and first man ever to break the record in the 400-meters. Attending the University of Illinois, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships for the 220 and 440 meter dash in 1946 and 1947. He was also the Amateur Athletic Union Champion in the 440 yard dash in 1945, 1947 and 1948. At the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, he won a silver medal in the 400 meter sprint. In 1952, at the Summer Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland, he won a Silver Medal in the 100-meter sprint and with fellow Jamaican Arthur Wint he won the Gold Medal in the 1600-meter relay setting a New World record. After retiring from sports, he coached several national teams and was president of Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) from 1954 to 1973. In 2004, he was conferred with Jamaica's Honor of Merit Award. He died from kidney failure.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was one of the first Jamaicans to win an Olympic Medal and first man ever to break the record in the 400-meters. Attending the University of Illinois, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships for the 220 and 440 meter dash in 1946 and 1947. He was also the Amateur Athletic Union Champion in the 440 yard dash in 1945, 1947 and 1948. At the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, he won a silver medal in the 400 meter sprint. In 1952, at the Summer Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland, he won a Silver Medal in the 100-meter sprint and with fellow Jamaican Arthur Wint he won the Gold Medal in the 1600-meter relay setting a New World record. After retiring from sports, he coached several national teams and was president of Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) from 1954 to 1973. In 2004, he was conferred with Jamaica's Honor of Merit Award. He died from kidney failure.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
  • Added: Nov 28, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23147574/herb-mckenley: accessed ), memorial page for Herb McKenley (9 Jul 1922–26 Nov 2007), Find a Grave Memorial ID 23147574, citing National Heroes Park, Kingston, Kingston, Jamaica; Maintained by Find a Grave.