Charles Mays
Charles "Charlie" Mays Sr. (February 3, 1941 – April 11, 2005) was an American Olympic athlete and Democratic Party politician who represented the 31st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. He was an eleven-time Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) All-American, nine-time AAU champion in the long jump and six-time champion in the 440-yard dash. Mays was AAU Track and Field Athlete of the Year on three occasions, and a two-time NCAA champion in the long jump and the mile relay. He competed in the long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Charles May Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 31st District | |
| In office January 10, 1978 – January 12, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen R. Kopycinski Bill Perkins |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Charles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1941 Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Died | April 11, 2005 (aged 64) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
Mays grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey and competed in track while at Lincoln High School.[1] He served six years on the city council in Jersey City and two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly.[2]
Mays founded the Black Athletes Hall of Fame in 1973[3] and later served as its executive director.[4]
Mays was inducted to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2007, Hudson County, New Jersey named the running track at Lincoln Park in his honor.[5]
References
- Amdur, Neil. "Sports; And Now They Play The Game of Politics", The New York Times, May 7, 1978. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Mr. Mays calls his experience in the Assembly, where he is a member of the Education and Judicial Committees, 'new schooling.' He is listening and learning, he says, but he has not changed his style from his competitive days at Lincoln High School in Jersey City or at Maryland State College."
- "UMES Mourns the Loss of a Hall-of-Famer, Charles Mays, Sr" (Press release). University of Maryland Eastern Shore. April 15, 2005. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- Grimsley, Will (June 3, 1977). "Black Hall of Fame Strives to Recognize 'the Other Guys'". The Free-Lance Star. p. 7. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- "Array of talent, old and new awaits Las Vegas induction". Washington Afro-American. February 25, 1975. p. 9.
- "HUDSON COUNTY TO DEDICATE LINCOLN PARK TRACK TO THE LATE CHARLES MAYS, FATHER OF NJCU CROSS COUNTRY COACH" (Press release). New Jersey City University. October 15, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
