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George Lermond

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George Lermond
As a West Point cadet
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
BornGeorge William Lermond
(1904-11-29)November 29, 1904
Nahant, Massachusetts[1]
DiedJuly 6, 1940(1940-07-06) (aged 35)
La Plata, Maryland
Sport
SportLong-distance running
Events
5000 metres
10,000 metres
3000 metres steeplechase
College teamBoston College
Coached byJack Ryder

George William Lermond (November 29, 1904 – July 6, 1940) was an American long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[2]

Early life

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A native of Nahant, Massachusetts, Lermond attended Boston College High School and Boston College.[3] His brother, Leo Lermond was also a long-distance runner.[4]

Track

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Lermond was a member of the Boston College Eagles track and field team. As a junior, he won the three-mile race at the Millrose Games.[5] He won the six mile race at the 1925 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[6] At the 1932 Eastern United States trials, Lermond broke the world record for the 3000 metres steeplechase.[7] He finished next to last in the same event at the final tryouts in Palo Alto, California and did not make that year's Olympic team.[8][9] He won the 3 miles at the 1932 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and the 5000 metres at the 1933 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.[6]

Military career

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Congressman James A. Gallivan secured Lermond an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1930.[6] In 1934, he married Edith V. Lloyd, the daughter of a United States Army Medical Corps officer.[10] They had three children.[6] The family lived in China while Lermond was attached to the 15th Infantry Regiment. They were in Tianjin during the Battle of Beiping–Tianjin.[11] By 1940, he was a captain and stationed at Fort Lewis.[6]

Death

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On July 6, 1940, Lermond, his wife, and children were staying at the home of his wife's parents. A fire broke out in the house and Lermond rushed into the nursery and removed his four-year old son, William, and 15-month old daughter, Edith. Lermond went back for George Lermond Jr., but was overcome by smoke and they both died in the fire.[6] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, after President Franklin Roosevelt gave his permission.[12][13]

References

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  1. ↑ "George Lermond". Olympedia. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "George Lermond Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Nahant Runner At West Point". The Boston Globe. August 3, 1926.
  4. ↑ "Two Lermonds Win On Newark Boards". The Boston Globe. February 9, 1932.
  5. ↑ Hart, Bob (February 27, 1959). "World Records Under Ryder". The Heights. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Perish in Flames: Lermond, Ex-B. C. Track Star, Dies With Son in Fire". The Boston Globe. July 7, 1940.
  7. ↑ Daley, Arthur (June 19, 1932). "World Record Set By George Lermond". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ Daley, Arthur (July 17, 1932). "Carr, Penn, Victor In 400-Meter Run; Eastman Is Second". The New York Times.
  9. ↑ Hallahan, John (July 18, 1932). "Hallowell Proves Courageous Runner". The Boston Globe.
  10. ↑ "Ex-Olympic Runner To Wed In New York". The Boston Globe. May 9, 1934.
  11. ↑ "Lieut Lermond With U. S. Troops At Tientsin". The Boston Globe. July 30, 1937.
  12. ↑ "This is Your America". Veteran Scribe. November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Burial Detail". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
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