Before there was Carl Lewis, there was Al Lawrence. The Sydney native became the first Cougar to win an Olympic gold medal when he took home the bronze in the 10,000m run at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Once he came to Houston he became an influential member in the running community at both the University and the city.
Lawrence passed away on May 15 due to pancreatic cancer. He was 86. Mourners laid flowers throughout Memorial Park, the place he helped transform into a running hub for the people of Houston, in Lawrence’s honor.
“Al was one of the pillars of the University of Houston Track and Field Program,” said Head Coach Leroy Burrell in a press release.