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James Rector

1884 – 1949

American athlete

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About James Rector

Lived 1884 – 1949 (aged 64). James Rector was an American athletics competitor and lawyer.

John "James" Alcorn Rector (June 22, 1884 – March 10, 1949) was an American athlete. He was the first Arkansas-born athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. While competing he was a University of Virginia student and went there to train with Pop Lannigan.

James Rector was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the grandson of Arkansas Civil War governor Henry Massey Rector and Mississippi Reconstruction governor James Alcorn.

He won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 1908 Summer Olympics, tying the Olympic record for the race (10.8 seconds at the time) during both the qualifying heats and the semifinals. He lost to Reggie Walker in the final, running the race in 10.9 seconds as Walker hit the 10.8 mark for his second time.

Rector was not only a track star at Virginia but also a star of the Virginia baseball and football teams. Rector was a prominent St. Louis, Missouri lawyer for more than thirty years before retiring in Hot Springs.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
John Alcorn Rector, John "James" Alcorn Rector

People in James Rector's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James Rector's

Frequently asked questions

Who was James Rector?

American athlete (1884-1949)

When was James Rector born?

James Rector was born on 22 June 1884 in Hot Springs.

When did James Rector die?

James Rector died on 10 March 1949 in Hot Springs.

What was James Rector's occupation?

James Rector was an athletics competitor and lawyer.

What nationality was James Rector?

James Rector was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Rector

· Wikidata: Q52042

· DBpedia: James Rector

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Rector. https://biography.guide/james-rector/

MLA: "James Rector." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-rector/.

Chicago: "James Rector." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-rector/.

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