Born October 25, 1927, Los Angeles, Calif.

Bud Held contributed to the sport of track and field in many ways but it was his excellence as a javelin thrower that brought him world recognition. He started as a pole vaulter in high school but in college at Stanford University developed into a world-class javelin thrower, winning national collegiate titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950.

In 1951, he threw 249-8, the first of six American records he was to set. He became the first American to ever hold the world javelin record when he threw 263-10 in 1953. He set another world record of 268-2 in 1955 and overall was ranked first in the world three times. Held was also a member of the 1952 Olympic team, placing ninth after injuring a shoulder. Ranked first in the U.S. seven times, he was also a six-time National AAU champion. He set his career best of 270-0 in 1956 and that year just missed making his second Olympic team by one inch. He was still throwing in 1970 at the age of 42 and set a national master's record of 229-3. Also a successful businessman, he invented a racketball stringing machine.