Former Trojan Great 400M Runner Green Passes Away
April 10, 2012 | Track & Field
April 10, 2012
Former Trojan great Bill Green, the 1980 Olympic Trials champion in the 400m dash passed away at the age of 50 on March 4 in Spokane, Wash. due to metastatic esophageal cancer.
Green, who grew up in Palo Alto, competed for USC during the 1980 and 1981 seasons. He finished second in the 400m dash at the 1980 NCAA Championships with a time of 45.37, a mark which stood as the USC freshman record until last season when Josh Mance posted a time of 45.29. Green also ran the second leg on USC's 4x100m relay which won the NCAA title in 1980 with a time of 39.16. He still ranks seventh all-time by a Trojan in the 400m dash with a best time of 45.07 in 1981 and was part of the ninth-fastest all-time USC 4x100m relay team.
Green won the 400m title at the 1980 Olympic Trials with a time of 45.85, but he was unable to test himslef against the best in the world as that was the U.S. team which President Jimmy Carter declared would boycott the Moscow Olympic Games.
Green was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 1, 1961. The family moved to Rochester, N.Y., where he attended the Harley School and later public school. The Greens moved to Palo Alto in 1971 and he attended Crescent Park School, Jordan and Wilbur middle schools, and was a graduate of Cubberley High's last class before it closed in 1979. While in high school he ran 10.59 in the 100m, 20.91 in the 200m and 45.51 in the 400m, all times that still rank among the best all-time in the Central Coast Section. His 400m time still ranks No. 2.
He is survived by his parents, Palo Altans Loretta Martin Green, a retired journalist, and William E. Green, an attorney. He also leaves his brother Roderic Martin Green (Tammy) of Commerce, Mich., who also was a member of the speedy Cubberley Cougars. Green is survived by his sisters Inelle Lisa Green of San Jose and Nicole Elise Green of Oakland.
A celebration of Bill Green's life was held on Saturday, April 7 with hundreds turning out. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in his memory to the Peninsula Bay Links Scholarship Fund, 1635 Candace Way, Los Altos, CA 94024. The money will fund a Bill Green academic scholarship to be presented in May to a local, college-bound senior track and field athlete.
It was announced that a memorial bench will be placed next to the track at the former Cubberley High site (now Cubberley Community Center) with a special plaque highlighting Green's achievements.
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