Partner With Us!

Get Involved

ALUMNI STORIES: LEROY NEAL

LEROY NEAL

Since the age of two Leroy Neal grew up in the back yard of Fullerton College. As a young lad at Fullerton High School, Neal finished 3rd in the State Mile and 4th in CIF Cross Country. When he arrived at Fullerton College, Leroy quickly made a name for himself becoming a three-time individual National Record holder in the Half-Mile and a member of nine National Record Relays. Neal’s personal best performances were 48.3 for 400 Meters, 1:49.4 at 800 Meters, 4:09.1 in the Mile, and 3:48.9 at 1500 Meters (converts to a 4:06 mile). He was also voted the So Cal Champion in Cross Country and State Champion in the 800 in 1960. Neal was the Mile State Champion, 2nd in the 800, ran on the winning 4 x 400 relay team in 1961 which led the Hornets to their first ever State Team Title. Leroy also won the Southern Pacific Amateur Athletic (AAU) regional meter race.

Neal would go on to graduate from Fullerton College, and move on to Occidental College where he set the school record for the Mile with a phenomenal time of 4:05.9. Neal’s personal career highlight at OXY came against UCLA when he won the Mile run. His points in the race were pivotal for his team’s one point win over the Bruins. He would go on to receive the Art Nunn Award (Most Inspirational Player) at Occidental in 1963.

Neal was the head track and field coach at the California Institute for Technology for 12 years, and then the head coach at Biola University.