Olympic gold medalist and former long-time Livingston resident Thomas William Courtney died Tuesday, August 22, at an assisted living facility in Naples, Florida. He was 90 years old.
One of Livingston’s most famous athletes, Courtney was a track star who won two gold medals at the 1956 Summer Olympics and held two world records.
Born in Newark on August 17, 1933, Tom Courtney grew up in Livingston, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Courtney of 50 Virginia Avenue. He attended high school in Caldwell, as Livingston did not then have its own high school in those years.
From early on, he was well known as a very strong – and extremely fast – runner. At Caldwell, he was the state 880 yard champion in his senior year, clocking in at 2:00.2. His personal best times include 45.8 seconds in the 400 meter; 1:45.8, in the 800 meter; and 1:46.8 in the 880 yard race. He was later inducted into the Caldwell High School Athletic Hall of Fame.