19 Facts About Randy Matson

James Randel "Randy" Matson was born on March 5,1945 and is an American track and field athlete who mostly competed in the shot put.

The son of Charles and Ellen Matson, Randy Matson was reared in Pampa, the seat of Gray County in the Texas Panhandle.

Randy Matson won the 50-yard dash, the 100-yard dash, the long jump and the high jump and finished sixth in the shot put.

Randy Matson attended Pampa High School, where he was a three-sport standout in American football, basketball, and track and field.

Randy Matson won All-District football honors, and was a two-time All-District and one-time All-State basketball player, averaging 15 points per game.

Randy Matson was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1963.

Randy Matson was named Track and Field News' Men's Athlete of the Year in 1970.

Randy Matson is one of the greatest shot putters in the history of the sport, based predominantly on his one-meter improvement of the world record in 1965.

From 1965 through 1971, Randy Matson entered 79 competitions, winning 73.

Randy Matson was selected in the 5th round by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, and the 11th round by the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association.

Randy Matson turned down both opportunities to concentrate on track and field.

Randy Matson earned the Olympic gold medal at the Mexico City Games in 1968, and was named the 1970 Track and Field News Athlete of the Year.

Randy Matson was on the June 1970 and January 1971 covers of Track and Field News.

On that same day Randy Matson put the shot over 70 feet three times and the discus over 200 feet three times.

Randy Matson narrowly missed making the 1972 Olympic team when he finished fourth at the Olympic Trials.

Randy Matson retired after that contest as the only man who, up to that time, had ever put the shot over 70 feet.

Once the foundation had completed its One Spirit One Vision fundraising campaign in 2007, far exceeding its goal, Randy Matson announced his resignation.

Randy Matson had suffered from heart trouble in 2004 and wished to spend more time with his six young grandchildren.

Randy Matson is married to the former Margaret Burns, a 1966 graduate of Abilene Christian University, where she served as a cheerleader.