Background
Born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Towns grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where he played football in high school at Richmond Academy.
Born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Towns grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where he played football in high school at Richmond Academy.
In 1933, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Georgia (UGA) after a sports journalist had seen him high jumping in his back yard. Rather than high jumping, Towns specialized in the high hurdles, winning National Collegiate Athletic Association and Amateur Athletic Union titles in the 120 y hurdles event in 1935. lieutenant was the beginning of a 60 race winning streak, lasting until 1937.
Also, he became the first Georgian to earn Olympic Gold.
Shortly after the Games, he became the first hurdler under 14 seconds. At a race in Oslo, he dramatically improved the world record to 13.7 – a time that would stand until 1950.
After college, Towns became Head Track and Field coach at UGA, a position he held until 1975. In 1991, he died in Athens, Georgia at age 77.
He was honored at the University with the naming of the Special Towns Track, and an annual meet called the Special Towns invitational.