Former Nebraska track and field world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Charlie Greene died Monday at the age of 76. Greene was a six-time national champion on the track for the Huskers during his career from 1965-67, winning the most NCAA titles of any Nebraska male track and field student-athlete.
Greene was inducted into the first Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015 and won three straight 60-yard dash titles at the 1965, 1966 and 1967 NCAA Indoor Championships. He was also the NCAA outdoor champion in the 100-meter dash in each of those years.
The first Husker to successfully defend an NCAA title in any sport, Greene was also a seven-time All-American and 11-time conference champion. To this day, Greene holds Nebraska school records in the 50-yard dash, 60-yard dash and 100-meter dash.
“On behalf of the entire University of Nebraska–Lincoln community, Jane and I express our sadness and sympathy about the passing of Charlie Greene. He was a world champion, not only as an athlete himself, but in his support of all student-athletes. We all should follow his example, because he was a true Husker,” says UNL Chancellor Ronnie Greene.
(Photo: University of Nebraska-Lincoln)