Rex Cawley (2009) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Rex Cawley

Induction:
2009
Class:
1963

Rex Cawley ranks not only as one of USC’s premier intermediate hurdlers, but as one of its greatest tracksters ever. He was the NCAA 400-yard intermediate hurdles champ in 1963 (the school’s first in the event) and his 49.6 time at that meet set a USC record. The 3-year (1961-63) letterman and 1963 captain was a member of Troy’s 1961 and 1963 NCAA championship teams (USC won the conference title in all 3 of his seasons). He then went on to win a gold medal in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics after setting a world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials that year (49.1). He also was the AAU champion in his specialty in 1963 and 1965. For 7 consecutive years (1959-65), he was ranked in the world’s Top 10 in his event, including No. 1 in 1963 and 1964. He was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2006. After his running days, he was involved in the pharmaceutical, medical equipment and electronics industries, then became a travel agent and an executive/corporate coach. He died on Jan. 21, 2022, at age 81.