World Record Setting Athlete, Professional Football Player. He will be best remembered for winning the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) 100-yard dash, as he set a then world record of 09.2 seconds. His feat on June 24, 1961 earned him the widely-used title "World's Fastest Human." Born Francis Joseph Budd, he excelled as a three-sport athlete (basketball, track and football) during his years at Asbury Park High School in New Jersey. He enrolled at the Villanova University and established himself as one of the school's all-time greatest athletes. While a Wildcat, he captured three NCAA individual championship titles and earned a spot on the US Men's Olympic Track and Field squad for the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome. He graduated from Villanova with a bachelor's degree in Economics and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 7th round of the 1962 NFL Draft. Budd never experienced football on the collegiate level. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver during the 1962 season and was a member of the the Washington Redskins for one-year (1963), before moving on to the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders (1965 to 1966). He totaled 27 career NFL games. After retiring from football, he held such positions as an employee with the Philadelphia Parks System, with the Atlantic City casino industry and as an officer with the New Jersey Corrections System. He is a member of the Villanova Wall of Fame. In his later years, Budd suffered from a variety of health issues including kidney aliments, prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis.
World Record Setting Athlete, Professional Football Player. He will be best remembered for winning the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) 100-yard dash, as he set a then world record of 09.2 seconds. His feat on June 24, 1961 earned him the widely-used title "World's Fastest Human." Born Francis Joseph Budd, he excelled as a three-sport athlete (basketball, track and football) during his years at Asbury Park High School in New Jersey. He enrolled at the Villanova University and established himself as one of the school's all-time greatest athletes. While a Wildcat, he captured three NCAA individual championship titles and earned a spot on the US Men's Olympic Track and Field squad for the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome. He graduated from Villanova with a bachelor's degree in Economics and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 7th round of the 1962 NFL Draft. Budd never experienced football on the collegiate level. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver during the 1962 season and was a member of the the Washington Redskins for one-year (1963), before moving on to the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders (1965 to 1966). He totaled 27 career NFL games. After retiring from football, he held such positions as an employee with the Philadelphia Parks System, with the Atlantic City casino industry and as an officer with the New Jersey Corrections System. He is a member of the Villanova Wall of Fame. In his later years, Budd suffered from a variety of health issues including kidney aliments, prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Bio by: C.S.
Advertisement
