Ivan William Fuqua (August 9, 1909 – January 14, 1994) was an American
athlete, a gold medal winner in the
4 × 400 m relay at the
1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Fuqua was born in
Decatur, Illinois, and graduated from Brazil High School in
Brazil, Indiana, where he set multiple track and field school records. He then went on to play football and excel in track and field at
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.[1]
Biography
Fuqua was an
AAU champion in 400 m in 1933 and 1934. At the
Los AngelesOlympics, or Games of the X Olympiad, Fuqua ran the opening leg in the American 4 × 400 m relay team, winning the gold medal - Indiana University's first - with a new
world record of 3:08.2.
After graduation, Ivan Fuqua was appointed track coach at Connecticut State (now the
University of Connecticut). He entered the Navy during World War II, and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander. He joined
Brown University as a coach. He stayed there as head coach from 1947 until 1973, when he retired. He later became a manager and co-owner of Galilee Beach Club in
Rhode Island.
In 1968, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.[2] In 1981, Fuqua was inducted into the Brown University Hall of Fame.[3]