A book publisher and sport editor of various newspapers, James Sullivan was one of the founders of the Amateur Athletic Union in 1888. He was the AAU's secretary from 1889 to 1896 and was its president from 1906 to 1909. As secretary-treasurer from 1909 until his death, he helped make the AAU a powerful organization with control over many sports. He also organized the public schools athletic league in New York City and served in a number of capacities for what it now known as the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Sullivan Award that goes annually to the nation's top amateur athlete is named in his honor.
Track & field administrator