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James Pringle, Jr. (Athlete)
James Pringle, Jr. (October 3th 1958) is an American athlete and an inductee of the University of Florida Gator Great Hall of Fame(1992) and the North Florida Athletic Hall of Fame (1980). He competed on the international stage and earned national titles in track and field for his specialty, the high jump (HJ). As a freshman at the University of Florida, he placed 3rd in the HJ at the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In the following years of his collegiate career, he earned seven All American Awards; and in 1979, he broke the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor HJ mark at 7 feet 5-3/8th inches. In 2012, his 1980 HJ of 2.27M remains second in UF's All-Time Best Top-Ten. As an entrepreneur, Pringle has worked in several aspects of the business world, and has served as CEO of JP Designs and Home Improvement, since 1978. He is a co-founder and executive officer of the University of Florida Track and Field Alumni Association (UFTFAA).

Early Life
James Pringle was born in Mt. Airy Hospital in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He lived in Philadelphia with his father, a veterinarian; mother, a teacher; and his brother and sister, until the age of eight, when Dr. Pringle moved the family to New Jersey. In New Jersey, Pringle attended Number Five School, Lenola School, Morrestown Middle School and Moorestown High School. His childhood hobbies were RC model airplanes and electronics. But he was also active in sports—especially football, baseball, basketball and track. In 1975, he was All Burlington County in, both, football and track; and he was a member of the State of New Jersey High School Championship Football Team.

College and Post-graduate
Because he excelled in, both, football and track, Pringle was offered several prestigious college scholarships, from which he chose the University of Florida’s Track and Field Scholarship. While at UF, he performed various field events, including the 110 yard high hurdles, long jump, triple jump and high jump. However, coaches soon recognized his talent and potential for high jumping and encouraged him to focus on that single event. During his college years at the University of Florida, Pringle studied advertising, art and history; and he worked at the Athletic Attic National Head Quarters in Gainesville, Florida. After the 1980 Olympics in Moscow Russia—which the United States boycotted—Pringle competed in Cuba in association with Olympic Coach Jimmy Carnes. Sponsored by Adidas, his competition tour included Budapest Hungary; London England; Nice France; and Pisa Italy. Pringle continued to compete until after the 1984 USA Olympic Trials, in Los Angeles California. In order to have access to a training facility, he lived in Atlanta Georgia where he coached the high jumpers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, until he retired from his jumping career, in 1987.

Honors Accomplishments and Awards

 * 1992: Inducted into the University Of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
 * 1980: Inducted into the North Florida Athletic Hall Of Fame
 * 1980: Competed on the European Tour in London, Budapest, Pisa, and Nice
 * 1979-1980: Competed in Cuba
 * 1980: Competed for the Athletic Attic’s Florida Track Club
 * 1977-1980: Earned Seven All American Awards, while at UF
 * 1979: Broke the NCAA High Jump Record in Johnson City Tennessee
 * 1979: Broke the NCAA Indoor High Jump mark at 7 feet 5-3/8th inches
 * 1979: Won the NCAA High Jump Title in Detroit
 * 1976: Placed 3rd in the High Jump at the SEC meet--as a freshman at UF
 * 1976: Awarded a Scholarship to the University of Florida for Track and Field.
 * 1975: Won--with his team--the New Jersey Group Three State HS Football Championship
 * 1975: Earned All County-Burlington in Football as a Defensive Back in High School

Resources
 * Burlington County Times 1975-1976
 * Philadelphia Enquirer 1975-1976
 * The Independent Florida Alligator 1977-1980
 * Bull Gator magazine 1980
 * DC Post 1980
 * Gator Bait Mag 1980
 * The Today Mag (The official mag of the Florida nation alumni association)1980
 * Burlington County Times (New Jersey) 1984
 * Palm Beach Post 1984

References: