Missouri State

BILL LAMBERSON
Track, 1967-70
Inducted October 30, 1982

Bill Lamberson was the first individual national champion in the history of Missouri State athletics when he won first place in his specialty, the discus, at the NCAA College Division meet in 1970 at St. Paul, MN. The NCAA title capped what for Lamberson had been an unbelievable senior season. The Wheaton native first won an MIAA title in the discus his sophomore year and went on to finish second in the NCAA regional meet and sixth in the national event for Coach Aldo Sebben. The 1969 campaign included competition for Lamberson against two-time U.S. Olympian Al Feuerbach and in 1970 Lamberson put together his magnificent year. He won discus championships in the MSU Relays, the MIAA championship meet, the NCAA regional championship and the NCAA national meet and set records in the event for MSU, Briggs Stadium, the MSU Relays and the MIAA. His school record of 173’1” and his stadium and MSU Relays records of 172’7” still stand today. Lamberson was killed in May of 1975 when he was struck by lightning while throwing the discusin preparation for a bid for the 1976 Olympic team.