Born November 25, 1904, in New York City. Died February 7, 1964.

One of the greatest field event competitors in women's track and field history, Lillian Copeland was the silver medalist in the discus at the 1928 Olympic Games, the first one in which women took part, then won the gold medal in the same event at the 1932 Games. Copeland dominated the women's weight events during that period, winning nine national titles. In 1926, she won the shot put, discus and javelin and set a meet record in each. She may have had even more titles but during the period from 1928 until 1932 she attended the University of Southern California Law School. In 1926 and 1927, she broke the world and American records for the javelin three times and also was a eight-time national record holder in the shot put. Amazingly quick for a weight thrower, she was a member of a 440-yard relay team that set a national record in 1928. Copeland worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and was a juvenile officer for 24 years.