Ralph Maxwell

Who was Ralph Maxwell?

Ralph "Buzzy" Bernard Borden Maxwell was a United States district court judge, who served the first district of North Dakota from his appointment on August 1, 1967 by the Governor of North Dakota, William L. Guy until his retirement from the position in 1978.

After retiring, Maxwell applied some of his efforts to the sport of Masters athletics where, as a 90 year old, he has set numerous world records in the 80-meter hurdles, the 200-meter hurdles, the pole vault, pentathlon and decathlon. His decathlon score, set in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento, California in July 2011 more than doubled the previous record score by Vic Younger of Australia. He is one of but a handful of 90 year olds to even attempt to run over hurdles. He was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota.