LeRoy T. Walker

Who was LeRoy T. Walker?

LeRoy T. Walker was the first black president of the United States Olympic Committee. In the 1996 Olympics, Dr. Walker was delegated to lead a 10,000 member group of the most talented athletes in the world. His goal was to make sure that American citizens have a feeling of ownership in the program,

“We ought to keep them informed. We ought to let them know what the Olympic movement is all about and what’s happening to the dollars that they give,”

said Walker. In 1988, he was the treasurer of the committee’s contingency fund. While under his wing, the fund increased about $43 million. Later, he gave up his six figure salary position as the director of sports for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to take the unpaid presidency position.

Dr. Walker received degrees from Benedict College and Columbia University. He received his Ph.D. in biomechanics at New York University. He went back to Benedict College to begin a track and field collegiate coaching career. He received enough sports scholarships to finance his college expenses. In 1945, he became the head coach for the North Carolina Central University track team.