RIP Ray Lumpp. WWII vet, NYU alum (who wrote for the NYU Knickerbocker), NYU Basketball National Championship Game star player, U.S. Basketball Olympic Champ, Knicks and Indianapolis player in several NBA finals. He was a major figure in NYC Track and Field and athletics in general, overseeing the New York Athletic Club for many years. He served as meet director of NYAC Games, Olympic Invitational and involved with the Millrose Games. Born in NYC, he retired to Williston (Long Island) and passed away at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola. If you are a fan, participant or former participant in NYC track and field you probably have seen him or recognize his name. He also stayed involved in hoops and often bemoaned NYUs dropping football and exited DI hoops having failed to prevail upon any NYU president to look at returning either. Mr Lumpp supported all sports and people who love sports and was humorous, un politically correct, laid back and still a gentleman who was unfailingly genuine, polite and cared about people. (Regarding his sense of humor, Mr. Lumpp was the guy who first told me about the old joke about the NYU seal-- I wont repeat it here unless requested. wink emoticon ) For those of you who are familiar with the hubbub you know that Mr. Lumpp got a unfair bad rap when the NYAC was a restrictive club and the premiere NYC track meets were functionally restrictive. His track meets were relatively inclusive. Later he and the NYAC did bring a lawsuit to keep women out of certain parts of the club, but the NYAC was created as a mens fraternal club. Frankly I can say the NYAC is not much less restrictive now. The Mercury Society, the group of current younger members are as good bunch of people but they arent diverse. 3-2
Posted on: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 00:10:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015