Adolph Plummer

During his time running at the University of New Mexico (UNM, 1959–1963), Plummer was a member of an outstanding Lobos track team. In 1961, Plummer became the NCAA champion in the 440 yards event. He was a three-time All-American and won four titles in the 440 yards event and three at 220 yards in the Skyline Conference and Western Athletic Conference (WAC).[http://golobos.com/news/2015/12/1/TRACK_1201155209.aspx Lobo Great Adolph Plummer Passes Away], University of New Mexico Athletics Official Site, December 1, 2015.

On May 25, 1963, running in his last race for UNM at the WAC Championships in Tempe, Arizona, Plummer shocked future Olympic champion Ulis Williams on his home track with a 44.9 second world record in the 440 yards (Williams also broke the old world record by 0.1 second).New Mexico Track & Field 2007, [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nm/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/07mediaguide_section7.pdf History & Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191939/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nm/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/07mediaguide_section7.pdf |date=April 2, 2015 }}, University of New Mexico Athletics Official Site, p.78 Plummer shattered the old mark set by Glenn Davis five years previously by the huge margin of 8 tenths of a second. Plummer's only memory of the race was hearing the starter say "set" before the race began.{{cite book|last=Garcia|first=Nasario|title=Saints & Seasons: A Guide to New Mexico's Most Popular Saints|year=2005|publisher=La Herencia Publishing|location=United States|isbn=0974302260|page=67}} Plummer's time also tied the existing world record in the shorter 400 meters (440 yards is 402.34 meters).Nick Georgandis, [http://www.livestrong.com/article/191771-history-of-the-400-meter-dash/ History of the 400-Meter Dash], Livestrong.com, January 23, 2014.{{cite news|title=UNM 125: Plummer cracks record|url=http://www.dailylobo.com/article/2014/07/7-21-plummer-record|date=May 29, 1963|publisher=dailylobo.com|accessdate=December 1, 2015}} This was the first ever 440 run under 45 seconds.{{cite news|title=Adolph Plummer, Roger Bannister, and Bob Beamon|author=V B Price|url=http://newmexicomercury.com/blog/comments/provincial_matters_8_26_2013|date=May 29, 1963|publisher=New Mexico Mercury|accessdate=August 26, 2013}}

In 1964, Plummer attempted to qualify for the Olympic Games but trailed in his heat due to the flare-up of an arthritic knee, a condition that was to eventually end his athletics career.{{cite news|title=Lehner, Burly Sparkle in Olympic Trials Test|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19640705&id=hCdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4642,701143&hl=en|date=July 5, 1964|publisher=Eugene Register}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/26-news/1145-ot-history-2012|title=Olympic Trials History|author=Richard Hymans|publisher=Track and Field News|access-date=March 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323065324/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/archivemenu/26-news/1145-ot-history-2012|archive-date=March 23, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

In 1965, Plummer returned to the track specializing in the 220 yard/200 meter event. That year he became USA national champion at 220 yards and was ranked number one in the world at that distance.(See below).{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39226139/|title=Track Victors Euro-bound after AAU Meet|author=Bob Myers, Associated Press|publisher=Silver City Daily News|date=June 28, 1965}}

In 1976, Plummer was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=Adolph Plummer 1976 Sports Hall of Fame Inductee|url=http://nmshof.com/adolph-plummer/|date=September 23, 2012|publisher=New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame}}

In 2012, Plummer was presented with a Living Legend Awards by the UNM Black Alumni Chapter.{{cite news|title=Lobo legends will be recognized|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/466641/sports/lobo-legends-will-be-recognized.html|date=September 23, 2012|publisher=Albuquerque Journal}}

Plummer has also been inducted into the UNM Alumni Lettermen's Association Hall of Honor.

Plummer was a native of Brooklyn, New York City and served in the United States Air Force before attending UNM.

After attending UNM, Plummer moved to Colorado and worked as an educator in the Denver public schools system.

In the mid-1970s (1974–76 in particular), Plummer's tenure as an educator at Cole Junior H.S., in Denver, coincided with the earliest days of Court-Ordered Busing for Integration. His involvement was instrumental in fostering tolerance – resulting in a successful, peaceful learning environment for Denver's suburban and urban students suddenly exposed to new cohorts and lifestyles and attitudes.

He also served for a time as an associate dean in the Athletic Department at UNM in charge of education.

Plummer died on November 30, 2015, in Denver at the age of 77.

Plummer was ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 440 yard/400 meter sprint event in the period 1961–64 and the 220 yard/200 meter sprint event in the period 1963–1966, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/02-m200rank.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6ZQLm1YuH?url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/02-m200rank.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2015|title=World Rankings Index—Men's 200 meters|publisher=Track and Field News|access-date=March 28, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/02-m200rankus.pdf|title=U.S. Rankings Index—Men's 200 meters|publisher=Track and Field News}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/03-m400rank.pdf|title=World Rankings Index—Men's 400 meters|publisher=Track and Field News}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/03-m400rankus.pdf|title=U.S. Rankings Index—Men's 400 meters|publisher=Track and Field News}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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Plummer competed in the 220 yard/220 meter and 440 yard/400 meter events in the USA National Track and Field Championships between 1961 and 1966.{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=2|title=USA Outdoor Track and Field Champions, Men's 200 m|publisher=USA Track and Field|access-date=March 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325033853/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=2|archive-date=March 25, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=3|title=USA Outdoor Track and Field Champions, Men's 400 m|publisher=USA Track and Field|access-date=March 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326153735/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=3|archive-date=March 26, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

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Category:1938 births

Category:2015 deaths

Category:American male sprinters

Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)

Category:New Mexico Lobos men's track and field athletes

Category:United States Air Force airmen

Category:Track and field athletes from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:20th-century American sportsmen