Archie Williams had one great year but he did more in that one year than many athletes achieve in a lifetime. Until 1936, Williams had never broken 49 seconds for the 440-yard run. However, that year he kept lowering his times and reached his peak at the NCAA championships, setting a world 400m record of 46.1 in the preliminaries. He won the final in a time of 47.0. He followed that feat with a victory in the Olympic Trials, then went to Berlin and won the Olympic gold medal in the 400 meters. A serious leg injury ended his running career a year later. After receiving degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California and aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Engineering School, Williams became a commercial pilot. Williams earned his pilot’s license and was hired as a civilian flying instructor at the famed Tuskegee Army Flying School. He eventually enlisted in the Air Force — working as an instructor, weather officer and pilot — flying missions during World War II and the Korean War. He retired from the military 22 years later as a lieutenant colonel. He later taught mathematics and computer science in California high schools for more than 20 years. Events 400 m - 46.10 Records Held World Record: 400 m - 46.10 (June 19, 1936) Championships 1936 Olympics: 400 m (1st) 1936 NCAA: 400 m - 47.00 (1st)