Jim is a former world record holder in the mile and a former US Representative from the state of Kansas. The title of his talk will be “The Courage to Run”.
Jim Ryun achieved national acclaim as a track and field star while a high school student in Wichita, Kansas. In 1965 Jim set the male High School Mile Record of 3:55.3 – a record that stood for 36 years. Jim participated in three summer Olympic Games: 1964, 1968, and 1972, winning a silver medal in the 1500 meter run in 1968. Jim Ryun also held the World Record in the mile, 1500 meters and 880 yards. Recently he was voted as the ESPN Best High School Athlete Ever (ahead of Tiger Woods and Lew Alcindor).
Congressman Ryun served five terms in the U.S. Congress, representing the Second Congressional District of Kansas. He was a member of the Armed Services, Budget and Financial Services Committees. Jim served as a citizen-statesman, with a commitment to honesty and integrity.
Jim Ryun is the founder and president of Jim Ryun Sports, Inc., a public relations company. He has also partnered with the ReSound Hearing Aid Co., creating his own program “Sounds of Success,” aimed at helping hearing impaired children fulfill their potential.
Married in January of 1969, Jim and Anne Ryun live in Lawrence, Kansas. They have four adult children, and ten grandchildren.