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Earl Jones represented the United States at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the 800 meters and earned the Bronze Medal. He won the 1984 Olympic Trials 800 meters in an American Record of 1:43.74 in a photo finish with Johnny Gray who posted the same time. His major international podium finishes include victories at Oslo’s Bislett Games and in Lausanne; runner-up finishes in London, Nice and Zurich; and a third place in Rome. At Eastern Michigan University, Earl won three NCAA Championships – in 1985 at 800 meters indoors and outdoors, and as a member of the 1984 indoor distance medley relay. He won 11 MAC titles at 800 meters (1984, 1985i, 1985), 1,000 meters (1984i), 1,500 meters (1983, 1984, 1985i, 1985) and the 4x400-meter relay (1983i, 1984, 1985). Earl and his Eastern Michigan teammates set American and World Records in the sprint medley relay in 1984 and won that event at the 1985 Drake Relays. At Taylor Center (Michigan) High School, Jones won MHSAA State Championships at 800 meters in 1981 and 1982 and at 1,600 meters in 1982. Earl’s stellar career was cut short by a devastating knee injury suffered in a traffic accident in late 1986 at age twenty-two. He was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Taylor Sports HOF in 2024. His personal best times include: 400m – 46.33; 500m – 1:01.72; 600m - 1:13.80; 800m - 1:43.62; 1,000m – 2:17.25; 1,500m – 3:36.19; mile – 3:58.76 and 4x800m relay – 7:06.5. Earl currently works as an Emergency Room CRNA. He resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was very gracious to spend an hour and forty-five minutes on the telephone for this interview in March 2025.
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Let’s start with your achievement of competing in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and earning a Bronze Medal at 800 meters. What did it mean to you then as a young man and what does it mean now to know that you are forever an Olympic competitor and a Bronze Medalist?
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| EJ |
At the age I received the medal, I didn’t truly know the value and the importance it held for a person. What I know now is that becoming an Olympian is a great honor. At the moment, I had won college medals and then I won this medal, and it didn’t dawn on me of its significance. Once I received the medal on the podium, I thought, ‘Wow, I have made it in front of millions of people.’ Today, I thank God for that honor. What I know now is that becoming an Olympian is a great honor.
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In addition to your Olympic Bronze Medal, you won the 1984 Olympic Trials 800 meters in an American Record and three NCAA Championships, and you ran strong through 1986. How tough was it when your running career was cut short due to a car accident in late 1986?
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| EJ |
When I came back from Europe in 1986 after competing for the Santa Monica Track Club, I was on top of the world at that moment. When I came back from Brazil and was in Florida, I got hurt in that car accident and couldn’t train and race like before. I fell into a depression for a couple years after that. But I recovered and here I am now, even though my career was cut short to a degree.
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| GCR: |
Sometimes we are on a pathway and, as they say in baseball, we’re looking for a fastball and we get a curveball. Were you finally able to have resolution and set different goals in life?
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| EJ |
Thank God for Eastern Michigan University. After a couple years, my college coach, Bob Parks, suggested that I go up there, continue my school studies and finish my degree. They took care of me at the University just like I was still on a college scholarship. That worked out well for me and I finished my education. I was totally lost financially, emotionally, and physically and that saved me. So, once again, thank God for Eastern Michigan University.
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The 800 meters is my favorite track event to watch. It’s a beautiful event because it is always an honest race and is the intersection of 400/800 meter runners whose forte is more speed-oriented and 800/1,500-meter runners whose strength is more endurance-oriented. How was it strategically and tactically with such diverse opponents, maybe four from each camp, knowing that all of you were aiming to use your relative strengths and you had to evaluate where they were at multiple points of the race to still have a kick to the finish to place as highly as possible? Was it a cool chess match out there on the track?
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| EJ |
That’s a good question. I could run the mile which was distance, and I could run the sprints. When I combined them, my coach said my tactic should be to be a front runner and to take the pace out. At that time, there weren’t runners who wanted to go out fast and there weren’t any pacesetters. My coach felt that I could combine my speed and endurance by going out fast to take the strength out of my competitors. His plan was for me to run the first lap in 49 seconds. I said, ‘If you think that will work, then we should go for it. Sure enough, it worked at the NCAAs, at the Olympic Trials, and then at the Olympics. Coach Bob Parks and I believed in front running and so did Johnny Gray.
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1984 OLYMPIC TRIALS AND OLYMPICS At the 1984 Olympic Trials, you were a nineteen-year-old young man running collegiately for Eastern Michigan. There were so many great competitors such as Johnny Gray, Don Paige, Stanley Redwine, John Marshall, and James Robinson. You could run a great race and win or run a great race and finish fifth or sixth. What was it like to compete with so many top athletes who could all make the team and what did you and your coach Bob Parks feel was the best way to put you in position to make the Olympic team?
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| EJ |
The American Record was held by Rick Wohlhuter with a 1:43.90. My two goals were the American Record and winning the Olympic Trials. I told myself when we were flying on a Delta flight from Michigan, I’ve got to have that record. Once again, the plan was to front run and to take the strength out of them. There was no one in the world who was going to take it out in forty-nine or fifty seconds. We made that decision, and it worked on that day.
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Let’s look more in-depth at that race as I have some notes and intermediate splits. You were out very fast in 24.2 seconds for the first 200 meters, with Stanley Redwine and John Marshall closest to you, before hitting the 400-meter mark in 50.2 seconds. How did you feel and what thoughts were going through your mind with a lap to go and you were four hundred meters away from an Olympic team?
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| EJ |
I knew and was confident at five hundred meters as I talked to myself, ‘Okay, Earl, we got this.’
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| GCR: |
You stayed out front and passed 600 meters in 1:16.7, two seconds faster than any previous Olympic Trials race and held the lead around the curve. What was going through your mind during the final one hundred meters, how tough was it maintaining your form, and could you tell that you held off Johnny Gray for the win?
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| EJ |
We got to seven hundred meters and then were coming down the stretch. I was thinking, ‘We really have it now. Let’s go for it.’ I lifted my knees high and had my arms straight ahead. I made it all the way there to the line and it was time for Johnny Gray to come in and share the glory with me. I felt Johnny coming. I didn’t know who it was at the time. But I knew someone was coming for me. Sure enough, it was Johnny Gray.
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What did it mean at the time to you to know you were an Olympian and would be wearing the USA jersey at the Olympics?
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| EJ |
I thought, ‘Hey, I’m an Olympian. I’m going to the Olympics. It actually happened.’ My parents, my college and my community were excited. My coach, Bob Parks, said ‘It’s not over yet. We have the possibility of getting one of these medals or to even win.’ I knew I would have to face Joachim Cruz and Sebastian Coe. I was reading about these guys for a long time and now I would compete against them. It was an honor.
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The logistics are more demanding on athletes at the Olympics. What was the experience like as you went through the check-in and waiting room before each race? Only once previously, in 1960, were there four rounds due to a large number of competitors. How were you feeling through the first two rounds and semifinals as each round got faster with you running 1:47.75, 1:45.44 and 1:44.51 to secure a spot in the final?
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| EJ |
The first two rounds were easy. I was living on campus in the Olympic Village. I thank God there were four rounds because for the third round I was with my parents. We got caught in Los Angeles traffic. I had less than an hour, maybe forty-five minutes, to run inside, check in, get on the field, and run to try to make the fourth round, which I did.
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Edwin Koech led most of the Olympic final before Joachim Cruz passed him off the last turn and Sebastian Coe and you were side-by-side racing for the Silver and Bronze Medals. What are key memories and thoughts you had during the race as you aimed to make the podium, and Billy Konchella made a late rally to try to run you down?
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| EJ |
Coming down the home stretch, I knew when I was with Sebastian Coe and Jochim Cruz that I had one of the medals. Joachim would pull me as he was a very strong athlete. Even to this day I thank him for pulling me along.
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How exciting was it to be on the podium in front of your home country with tens of thousands of USA fans and with two great athletes?
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| EJ |
It was a great honor and still is today to be there. I shared it with my family. When people ask me now about the Olympics, I tell them it was a great honor to be there and to receive a medal for my country. When I made it to the final, I wasn’t being cocky, but I told myself I was going to receive one of those medals and it happened.
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Before we move on to some other areas, let’s look at the Olympic experience. What are outstanding memories from the Olympic Games in terms of meeting the other athletes, watching other events and sports, and interacting with the fans?
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| EJ |
At that time, we had the greatest athletes in the world. We had Michael Jordan and other guys on the basketball team with us. There was Evander Holyfield and the USA boxing team. I was living with all these guys in the Olympic Village. I was one of them and was eating meals with these guys. There was food from around the world in the Village. Every country cooked their own food. It was a great honor to taste different kinds of foods and to be with these great athletes. I kept thinking, ‘Man, I’m here.’
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Did you participate in Opening Ceremonies and stay around for the Closing Ceremonies, which seem on television to be a fun atmosphere as the competition is over and everybody is happy and letting off steam? And did you have your Bronze medal around your neck?
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| EJ |
For the Opening Ceremonies there was discussion of who would be our honoree for Track and Field and who would carry the flag. It ended up being Edwin Moses. For the Opening Ceremonies we had to be in our area at a certain time and walk in when it was our turn. I can still see it to this day. The Closing Ceremonies were great. All the greatest athletes in the world came together and were greeting each other and hugging. It was wonderful. I had my medal around my neck. We were hugging and kissing people, and it was awesome.
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HIGH SCHOOL RACING Let’s take a look at when you started running as a teenager. What other sports did you play as a youth and how did you get started as a runner?
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| EJ |
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a baseball player. During my junior year in high school, when I was playing baseball, they had us warm up and told us to run four or five laps around the field. I lapped other guys on the second lap. The coach said, ‘Here’s what we are going to do young man. We are going to have you run track.’ That’s where it took off right there in high school. I didn’t have that much training at my first high school. I do remember that I beat a guy who was the three-time state champion for Class A. I was wearing cutoff jeans and some old spike shoes, and I ended up winning. My next coach was Mickey Turchick at Taylor Center. He and his wife took me in. The new school was an all-white school and that was a hard adjustment. I did academically and athletically, and I thank God for that.
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At the 1981 MHSAA State Championships in the 1,600 meters, Bill Stone of Holt High school won in 4:12.6, followed by you in 4:16.4 and you were five seconds ahead of John Fralick who placed third. Was Stone out fast or did you stay close for a while, and he pulled away?
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| EJ |
You bring back memories. We didn’t know of him. We knew we could win the 1,600 meters and that was my main goal. Bill Stone got away from me. I tried to hang in there, but he was very fast.
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At that same 1981 MHSAA State Championships, you came back to win the 800 meters in 1:54.6, with David Johnson of Flint Northwestern at 1:56.7 and your teammate, Jason Bryant at 1:57.0. How exciting was it to win and to have your teammate get the Bronze Medal?
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| EJ |
I knew I had the 800 meters under my belt. That was a great race. Mr. Turchick taught us about the sport and his ‘Three Ds Determination, Discipline and Dedication.’ He taught us that we could accomplish anything with those characteristics. He taught us religiously to have faith in God and to follow those ‘Three Ds.’ We had a great team and that changed my life.
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The next year at the 1982 MHSAA State Championships, you won the 1,600 meters in 4:18.1 with a group three or four seconds back including Clark Couyoumjian of Northville in 4:21.6, Orssie Bumphus of Detroit Central in 4:22.1, Scott Pike of Lansing Eastern in 4:22.3 and Kyle Koskinen of Swartz Creek in 4:22.3. Did you take that race out and no one went with you, or did you come on strong at the end?
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| EJ |
We knew at the beginning that I had that race under control. I had a great summer of training before my senior year, great cross country running in the fall and great indoor season, so I knew I was ready.
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In the 1982 MHSAA State Championships 800 meters, you won by about ten meters in 1:52.7 ahead of three runners who were bunched up as Glenn Kalssa of Dearborn Edsel Ford, who was on the State cross-country championship team in the fall of 1981 ran 1:54.1, Tom Szoka of Grand Rapids Union also ran 1:54.3 and Treg Scott of Birmingham Seaholm ran 1:54.9. Did anyone push you or were you in the zone for that double victory?
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| EJ |
That was another race where I was confident that I would come back and win. I knew I had it and my points were already counted. I had to get my points for the team and that is all I knew. I was team oriented.
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In the 1,600-meter relay at State, Detroit Central won in 3:16.1, with Detroit Henry Ford second in 3:17.7 and Taylor Center third in 3:18.0 followed closely by Flint Southwestern in 3:18.2. Were you the anchor runner for your team?
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| EJ |
I was the anchor man on the relay. I found out that Detroit Central’s coach had told them, ‘As long as we stay ahead of that guy, Earl Jones, we can win.’ They kept away from me, and they won the State championship.
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Detroit Central were team champions in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Your junior year Detroit Central won easily with 81 points, followed by Detroit Cody with 32 points and your Taylor Center team with 29 points. Your senior year, Detroit Central won big again with 78 points, but your Taylor Center squad did move up to second place with 38 points. How tough was Detroit Central as a team?
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| EJ |
Detroit Central was great. They had the sprints covered in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the hurdles. They had a great team mostly in the sprints.
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What can you tell us about your high school summer training that got you ready for the fall cross country and spring track seasons?
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| EJ |
Coach Turchick emphasized that we needed a good base in the summer to win. We ran, lifted weights, and swam. I got in my distance. I jumped into the Detroit Free Press marathon at about then eight-mile mark to do a training run. I ended up running with a guy who ran around a 2:30 marathon. We clicked off miles and picked up one group of runners and then another group. I had to drop out before the finish because I wasn’t registered for the race and didn’t start at the starting line. But I ended up running around eighteen miles at under six minutes a mile. I knew I was getting set up for a great cross-country season. Coach Turchick had us ready with a good base which made the track workouts easier. With that summer of training, the workouts were easy-breezy. And cross country on top of the summer training helped me to realize that anything was possible.
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Did you or your team make it to the Michigan State Cross-Country Championships or as far as Districts or Regionals?
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| EJ |
We had a great cross-country team and made it to the Districts and Regionals. We were solid. We were happy to make it as far as we did.
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COLLEGE RACING Did you consider several different colleges or universities and how did you end up at Eastern Michigan University?
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| EJ |
I heard from many colleges. I ended up signing with Louisiana State, but something fell through. Time was passing and I was recruited by Eastern Michigan and Coach Bob Parks. He was down to earth and talked a lot about my education. He wasn’t like the other coaches who were trying to buy athletes. He told me what he had to offer, I went there, and it was a great decision made by Mr. Turchick and me.
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How was your transition from high school to college being away from home with tougher academics, more training and longer races?
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| EJ |
The transition went well because I was only forty-five minutes to an hour away from home. I was not out of state. Coach Turchick had suggested that I stay close to home and keep my academics straight. I wasn’t academically strong in high school but, with Mr. Turchick, athletics came second.
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| GCR: |
You had many great races in college at NCAAs, the MAC Conference, at the Drake Relays and at other venues. Let’s look at some of these big competitions. The first one that caught my attention was at the 1983 NCAA 1,500 meters outdoors as Frank O’Mara won in 3:40.51 with you a meter back in 3:40.64 and three guys that were close behind including John Hinton of Virginia in 3:41.08, Wybo Lelieveld of Clemson in 3:41.68 and Dub Myers of Oregon in 3:41.92. What do you recall of scoring an NCAA Silver Medal and almost beating Frank O’Mara?
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| EJ |
That was a great race, and I was competing against many top athletes. Coach Parks told me before the race to stay in the middle of the pack, keep in close contact and that I could do well. It worked out again. I didn’t have the confidence at the time that grew later, but I raced well with some strong athletes. Recently. I was at the Millrose Games talking to Eamonn Coghlan and asked him to relay a message to Frank O’Mara.
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I know you loved racing relays and at the 1984 NCAA indoors Eastern Michigan won the distance medley in 9:40.18 as Joe Codrington, Eric Frederick and Dan Shamiyeh teamed with you for the win. How tough was the competition as Wisconsin was only a couple meters back in 9:40.37 followed by Arkansas in 9:41.13, Oklahoma State in 9:42.56, Fairleigh Dickinson 9:42.72 and Southern Methodist in 9:42.81?
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| EJ |
We ran at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit. The track was those boards that were very high on the curve. We got adjusted to the track. We did quite well. I told the guys, ‘Just give me the baton, close enough, and I’ll take it from there.’ We ended up winning.
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We were heading toward the Olympics and at the 1984 NCAA outdoors you faced off with Joachim Cruz who won in 1:45.10, with you about five meters back in 1:45.79. What do you recall of the strategies and tactics from that race?
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| EJ |
I remember that race to this day. It was a great race. He took control of the race at the 400 meters. At 600 meters or so we were going at it. He was pulling me. I could feel it in my stomach and in my gut. I knew I had at least second place but, in my mind I was thinking, ‘This guy, Joachim Cruz, is just great.’ He was so strong.
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You came into the 1985 NCAA 800 meters indoors as an Olympic Bronze medalist and lined up with fellow Olympian John Marshall who was the defending champ. What do you recall from that race as you won handily in 1:47.26 ahead of John Marshall 1:48.71 and Penn State’s Richard Moore at 1:48.81?
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| EJ |
I had so much confidence in my training and my coaches and that was another great race. I just spoke with John Marshall yesterday and he is a great man.
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You were able to become ‘Mister Indoors and Mister Outdoors’ at 800 meters at the 1985 NCAA Championships outdoors, winning in 1:45.12 over Freddie Williams of Abilene Christian in 1:46.08 and John Marshall in 1:46.26. Was that exciting to do the double?
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| EJ |
It was exciting. I had all the confidence in the world. I had solid training with my track workouts and lifting weights. At that time, I was benching 350 pounds. For a distance runner to be benching that kind of weight was almost impossible. My strength combined with my distance endurance was a strong combination.
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You also raced well in the 1985 NCAA 1500 meters as Abdi Bile won in 3:41.62, Tim Hacker of Wisconsin followed in 3:42.66 and you were a close sixth place in 3:43.25. How tough was it racing such strong runners over the longer distance?
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| EJ |
That was a tough race. It was one of my toughest races as those were some great athletes. I was more confident in the 800 meters than I was in the 1,500 meters and, once again, it worked out.
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| GCR: |
Before NCAAs, each year you raced in the MAC and those conference meets are always fun. You won 11 MAC Championships including four at 1,500 meters, three at 800 meters, three in the four by 400-meter relay and one at 1,000 meters. How much fun was it competing with your team and scoring points as you aimed to win MAC championships?
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| EJ |
We were very team oriented. It was a great experience. There were no Americans who could beat me. I had the USA locked in.
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| GCR: |
Eastern Michigan was strong at the Drake Relays in both 1984 and 1985 in the sprint medley relay. In 1984, you got the baton for the anchor leg in sixth place and ran 1:44.5 to pass Jackson State, Drake, Indiana and Iowa to bring your team a second place in 3:15.50 and miss catching Alabama by only six one-hundredths of a second as they won in 3:15.44. How cool was it to pass so many guys but then to just not quite catch Alabama?
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| EJ |
That was one of my greatest races. We ran an outstanding relay. I was waiting and thinking, ‘Just give me the baton.’ By the time I received the baton, it looked like he was halfway around the curve. I kept my eyes straight on him and almost got him.
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The following year at the 1985 Drake Relays Eastern Michigan was able to win the sprint medley relay in 3:13.21 as Willie Jenkins, Jeff Smith and Will Hamilton got you the baton in fourth place and you cranked out a 1:45.1 anchor to pass Prairie View, Drake 3:16.69 and Jackson State to win by over two seconds. How much fun was it to put the pedal to the medal and bring home the relay win?
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| EJ |
The Drake Relays audience pulled me in. I had the fastest 800-meter relay split at the time. Then Johnny Gray ran a faster split in Milwaukee, so the glory I had was taken away from me. Every time I looked around, there was Johnny Gray, and he was awesome.
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What was it like when you finished your junior year in college, decided to go professional and had questions about what shoe and apparel company do I run for, do I get an agent, and who will be my coach? How was that experience navigating that whole thought process?
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| EJ |
I was asked by Coach Joe Douglas to come down to Los Angeles during the summer to train with his team. I couldn’t believe I ran for a great team in high school, another great team at Eastern Michigan and now I could run for another awesome team in Santa Monica. There was the opportunity for me to travel the world and to earn money. I didn’t want to jeopardize Coach Parks and the university because I was being offered money to race. I asked Coach Parks what I should do. He said, ‘Go for it.’ I drove from Michigan to Los Angeles and ended up with the Santa Monica Track Club. It was one of the greatest teams ever. It was an honor meeting my teammates like Carl Lewis, Carol Lewis, Johnny Gray, David Mack and so many others.
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TRAINING Let’s step back again to your high school days. You mentioned Coach Mickey Turchick’s ‘Three Ds of Determination, Discipline, and Dedication’ at Taylor Center High School. What were some of the primary workouts you did? Were you doing repeat 400s, 200s, ladders or other workouts?
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| EJ |
We did mostly ladders. He was a follower of the Arthur Lydiard program, and we did those workouts.
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| GCR: |
Did Coach Harry Weaver mostly work with you in the summer since he was the National Junior Olympic coach in Detroit?
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| EJ |
Coach Weaver coached the National Junior Olympic team. I ran on the Junior Olympic team in Nebraska and Edwin Moses was the honoree, so we were able to meet him. When I told him I was running the 800 meters, he told me he was thinking about running it. I said, ‘Mr. Moses, I don’t think you want to run the 800 meters because I’m going to beat you.’ I was a junior in high school at the time. I also said, ‘No sir, I don’t think you want to do that.’
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| GCR: |
At the Junior Olympic level, were you running on relays with guys from Detroit Central and Detroit Cody and Detroit Henry Ford? Were they your teammates?
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| EJ |
They were all my teammates. Coach Turchick had me so ready that Coach Weaver didn’t have to do much at all.
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| GCR: |
What was it like when you left high school for Eastern Michigan University where you had Coach Parks, different coaching methods, and strong teammates to train with?
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| EJ |
During cross-country season we had some great runners – Erik Henriksen, Steve Reighard, Scott Mills, Dan Shamiyeh, Mark Smith and more. In the summer we would put in distance in the morning and hard workouts in the afternoon. I had a particularly good foundation at Eastern Michigan. The program was great. With that foundation, anything was possible.
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| GCR: |
During that transition from Eastern Michigan to the Santa Monica Track Club, were your workouts prescribed by Coach Parks or Coach Douglas and how were workouts set when you were in Europe?
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| EJ |
I was still coached by Coach Parks until I got out to Santa Monica, and then I used Joe Douglas’ workouts. It worked out perfectly. His workouts were short but fast. I ran one workout where I did 1,500 meters in 3:45, a fast 800 meters and 400 meters in 45 seconds. Coach Douglas thought my future was in the 1,500 meters.
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OTHER ELITE TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITIONS At the April 1986 Mt. SAC Relays, you were on a four by 800-meter relay that won in 7:06.5. How much fun was it to run with three other guys and you averaged 1:46?
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| EJ |
We had James Robinson, David Mack, me, and Johnny Gray. That was a great team. James Robinson ran a little slower than expected for us. David Mack had to bring it back. Then it came down to me and Johnny. I ran a 1:44 split and got the baton to Johnny. I knew right there that we would have the American Record. Our goal was to get the World Record, and we came close to what Great Britain had run.
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| GCR: |
In late June 1986 you ran the 1,500 meters in 3:36.19 at the Adraan Paulen Memorial in Hengelo, though your fast time was only good for sixth place. Was that a true breakthrough for you?
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| EJ |
Yes, it was. I didn’t have a strategy, but I ran along with Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. After that race, I was confident I could race 1,500 meters and the mile.
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| GCR: |
A week later, David Mack and you raced at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway and you won convincingly in 1:44.7 over two guys from Senegal, Moussa Fall at 1:45.41 and Babacar Niang at 1:45.55, as David Mack was there also in 1:45.57. Were you off the front or did the guys from Senegal team up and take it out?
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| EJ |
They took David Mack and me out. I loved being a front runner and got to the front after the first 400 meters. That’s when I knew that I had the race in hand. It was another great race which gave me more confidence that I could truly compete overseas.
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| GCR: |
Six days later you were in London for the Peugeot-Talbot Games and faced off against Steve Cram over 1,000 meters with Cram winning in 2:15.77 ahead of you in second place in 2:17.25. How tough was Steve Cram since he was so strong over 1,500 meters and in the mile?
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| EJ |
Steve Cram was impressive and was a great runner. For me to be in the race with him and to be able to compete in two or three races each week in different cities was a challenging transition.
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| GCR: |
You were racing everywhere – in Nice, Budapest, Lausanne, Brussels, Rome – was it interesting traveling from country to country, figuring out where you were training and who could be a training partner. What else stands out from your travels and races, or was it almost a blur?
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| EJ |
It was totally professional, great financially, an outstanding experience and overwhelming at times. Here I was in Europe competing against the best in the world and I was one of them. It was a great honor.
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| GCR: |
Another race I wish to discuss is at the 1986 Weltklasse Zurich where Johnny Gray won the 800 meters in 1:43.46 and you set your personal best of 1:43.62 ahead of William Wuyke in 1:43.97 and Jose Luis Barbosa in 1:44.12. Did Johnny take it out or did you since you are both front runners?
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| EJ |
I took it out that time. Johnny and I would talk before these races in Europe where we were both competing and we took turns taking it out. I would one time and Johnny would the next time. I told him I would that day. My main goal was to place first or second. Johnny is a great friend and teammate and an honor to be with. I am ecstatic to this day that I was able to work out with him and be on the Santa Monica Track Club team.
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| GCR: |
Are there any races or other track events we didn’t discuss that come to mind?
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| EJ |
There was one particular race where Sebastian Coe was going for the World Record. He had so much pull for who he wanted in the race, and he didn’t want me in the race. So, I had to run in an 800 meters or ‘B’ race when I was more confident to run the 1,500 meters or mile. I wanted to be in that race.
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| GCR: |
WRAPUP After a strong career, you were inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Taylor Sports HOF in 2024. How exciting was it to be inducted and receive this recognition?
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| EJ |
Still today, it is a great honor. I put in the work, and I am overwhelmed right now as we speak for them to honor me for those accomplishments. I was privileged to compete around the world and see so many things. I came from a small town where the very few people who had achievements that were known were in music and dance. Here I am as a runner competing for my hometown, my university, my family, and my coaches.
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| GCR: |
What are some of the highlights of the pathways you pursued after your running career ended in terms of work, coaching and mentoring youth and what are you doing now
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| EJ |
I tried to make a comeback after my accident. I did the workouts with Johnny Gray and my teammates from the fall of 1986 and into the indoor season of 1987. I was able to sustain running 400-meter speed of 51 or 52 seconds. I thought, if I could come through the 600 meters in 1:16 that I could race again but, in the last 100 meters, I just didn’t have the ability to sustain the pace. Lewis Johnson, who is now an announcer on television for track meets, came down and was training with us and, once again, we had a great team. I was working on my comeback and was able to complete the workouts, but I wasn’t able to kick. Instead of my knee being able to flex at a ninety-degree angle, I could only bend it at seventy or seventy-five degrees. I ran at the Sunkist meet organized by Don Franken and I couldn’t kick. I ended up falling into a depression. Drugs and alcohol caught up with me and I can admit that. It took me three or four years to recover. I did a four-month program at Tulsa welding school and became a welder. But I didn’t want to weld any more. Then I worked in construction. When I had no direction, Coach John McDonnell from Arkansas had me go down there to work out with the team. He treated me like his team was treated. I trained with Brandon Rock. Then I went back to Eastern Michigan and finished my degree. After that, I worked in some great jobs that gave me confidence that my life would be all right. I didn’t need another path but had to keep going straightforward. I do have a friend from Eastern Michigan named Dan McCoy who changed my perspective of life when I was working at a casino a long time ago. I was making money but was not happy. Dan told me I would be great if I took care of people. I told him I wanted to work in a hospital and Dan paid for my education to be a CRNA which I completed three years ago. Now, I’m working at a hospital. I work in the Emergency Room, and I transport patients. I work with colleagues who are doctors and nurses. I never thought I would be working with doctors, specialists, and neurologists. There is a lot of mental illness and problems with fentanyl, which is killing people. I see death every day. I appreciate life and thank God every day.
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| GCR: |
Did you do much coaching of youths?
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| EJ |
Later on in life, I didn’t have the patience to be a coach, though I did coach for a while in my hometown junior high school. There was no equipment. I started out with five or six kids but, when they found out who I was, we grew to about thirty kids on the team. Before the end of the year, we were doing well, and I found out that I did have coaching expertise when given the chance.
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| GCR: |
Earl, I’m about seven years older than you and have transitioned more into healthiness and fitness versus competitiveness. As you have reached sixty years old, what is your current fitness regimen and what are your future goals in terms of your health and fitness?
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| EJ |
I do a lot of walking because I am not able to run or ride a bike because of the scar tissue in my knee. I also had a knee replacement. I stay fit and am in great shape. When I was at the Millrose Games recently, some people made comments like, ‘You still look like you are in great shape and can compete.’ I wish I could. I can mentally, but not physically.
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| GCR: |
What are the major lessons you have learned during your life from the ‘Three Ds’ that running encourages, balancing aspects of life, and adversity you have faced that encompasses the philosophy of Earl Jones that you would like to share which will encourage people to reach their potential as a runner and as a human being?
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| EJ |
Have confidence and have faith in yourself. There will be ups and downs, but don’t let that stop you. Never give up. Be determined to do better with your life. That is where I’m standing right now.
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Inside Stuff |
| Hobbies/Interests |
I would like to be a flight attendant. I’m knowledgeable about travelling and that would be nice. When I was in Paris this past summer for the Olympics, I was wearing a 1984 Olympics shirt and was recognized
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| Nicknames |
That always called me ‘Earl Clue’ because I could produce solutions. When a teammate wasn’t wanting to put in enough distance, I would say, ‘Let’s go this way for a two or three-mile run.’ They didn’t know it, but I would take them on an eight-mile run. They would ask when there was a turning point and I would say, ‘We’re almost there. We’re almost there.’ Before you knew it, we would do a ten-mile run. My teammates never thought they could run that far, and it changed their lives. So, I had the clue
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| Favorite movies |
I watch many motivational speeches, videos and movies. I like Denzel Washington. I compare myself to ‘Forrest Gump.’ I’m like a black Forrest Gump who traveled around the world. I met people from different walks of life and many places. The way Forrest Gump lived his life, that’s where I am
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| Favorite TV shows |
‘Three’s Company,’ ‘The Jeffersons,’ ‘Marge,’ ‘Good Times’
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| Favorite music |
I’m a jazz lover, especially instrumental jazz
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| Favorite books |
Most of the books I read are about track and field. That is my interest
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| First car |
It was a Camaro. It had a Cobra engine, a T-top, and was fast. That was a great car
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| Current car |
I don’t drive too much anymore because I have flashbacks from car accidents. In try to take public transportation everywhere I go
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| First Jobs |
I was the neighborhood helper for the elderly. I would cut their grass, shovel snow, and do odd jobs. That is something I liked to do
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| Family |
I’m old school and like to relax and spend time with my family. I’m ‘Papa’ right now. My grandson is four months old and I’m a family-oriented guy. I was doing construction work when I met my wife, Sheryl. We are still married today for twenty-eight years. We have two girls that are thirty-two and twenty-five years old. Jonnite Jackson is the older girl and is my stepdaughter. She has three kids that aren’t my biological grandkids, but I treat them the same. My daughter, Angel, has one child. We are a close-knit family. My brothers, Aaron and Lewis, are in Michigan. They were genetically faster than me. I have a sister, Maryanne, and I have thirty nieces and nephews
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| Pets |
I grew up in a family that didn’t have pets
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| Favorite breakfast |
Steak and eggs, sometimes with bacon
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| Favorite meal |
My family and I cook mostly southern meals like pot roast. My wife’s family is from the country. They live off the land and cook animals like deer and squirrels
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| Favorite beverages |
I’m a Gatorade man. I also like to drink water, but not much soda
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| First running memory |
In elementary school, I was a runner. Everywhere I went, I ran. To have peace of mind in high school, I might go out in the evening and run many, many miles even though I knew I had track practice the next day
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| Running heroes |
Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett
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| Greatest running moments |
The sprint medley indoors, when we weren’t expected to win and we set the World Record was one of those great moments. Competing with my teammates at the Santa Monica Track Club, Eastern Michigan and at my high school because they were three incredibly good teams that helped my whole career. Being on those teams was more exciting than winning an Olympic medal because I was able to bring in others for group success. I wasn’t only competing for myself, but for my teams. I wanted to have others share in my success and those made great memories and moments. We all have ups and downs, but God was good to me
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| Worst running moment |
In 1985, I had a goal to run 1:42 on American soil and I went out too fast to try and make the U.S. team for the World Championships. I went out around 48.5 seconds for the first 400 meters. I made it to 600 meters and 700 meters in the lead. Then guys started passing me. I was second, then third and I ended up taking fourth place when David Mack beat me on the line. If I had slowed it down into the 49s that first lap. I might have run 1:42 or in the 1:41s. The World Record was my goal, and I didn’t put it together
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| Childhood dreams |
I wanted to be a college coach. I like bringing people together with a goal
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| Funny memories |
In college, Coach Parks was one of those guys who wasn’t able to give the guys on the team the per-diem money like they did at big schools like Michigan or UCLA. We had to survive at less expensive places when we were competing in places in Indiana and Kentucky
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| Embarrassing moment |
One time there was a thunderstorm that came up quickly. Lightning struck and the thunder sparked me to move so fast that I think I could have won the Olympics then
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| Favorite places to travel |
New York and Los Angeles are favorite places. In Los Angeles I met many actors and singers. In Europe, I saw the Berlin Wall that separated east from west. I have a piece of the wall
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| Choose a Superhero – Batman or Spiderman? |
Batman or Spiderman? Both are great, but I have to go with Batman and Robin
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| Choose a theme park – Disney World or Universal Studios? |
Disney World
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| Choose a Sylvester Stallone - Rocky or Rambo? |
I got to know Sylvester Stallone personally. We had lunch and he used to work out some with us at the Santa Monica Track Club when we lifted weights at the same gym. I’m a ‘Rocky’ guy
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| Choose a Super Bowl quarterback – Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurt? |
I’m going with Jalen Hurt. They were the underdogs and it’s time for a change in life
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| Choose the beach or mountains? |
Mountains, because I’m a nature guy
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| Choose a tough guy – Vin Diesel or The Rock? |
Vin Diesel
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| Choose a comedian – Chris Rock or Kevin Hart? |
Definitely Kevin Hart
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| Choose Movie coolness – James Bond 007 or IMF Agent Ethan Hunt? |
James Bond. As a coincidence, Joachim Cruz and I were going to Paris and, on the plane, we got to meet Sean Connery, the original James Bond. I asked him if he would say, ‘Bond, James Bond.’ And he said it for us. That was a great day
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| Choose legendary status – Break 800 Meters World Record or Olympic Gold Medal? |
Break the World Record and run 1:39.49
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| Final comments from Earl |
I feel honored speaking with you. I’ve seen your interviews over the years with all these great athletes. I’m honored to be one of them and appreciate this time
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