TEMPE – Former Olympian and Sun Devil All-American Malcolm E. Spence II died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last week at the age of 81. Spence was a pioneer for what is now the world sprinting powerhouse Jamaica, and won the bronze medal for the Caribbean nation at the 1960 Olympic Games in the 4x400-meter relay.
A gifted sprinter, Spence and his late twin brother Melville "Mel" Spence came to Arizona State in the 1950s and competed under legendary head coach Baldy Castillo. While a Sun Devil, Malcolm earned an All-America honor in the 440-yard dash, becoming the first athlete in school history to take All-America honors in that event and just the ninth to ever score at an NCAA Championships outdoors.
"He would always talk about going to school in the late 50s in Arizona, and how difficult it was at times," his son Malcolm Spence III said. "But he loved his teammates, he loved his coach, he loved the school and he would always talk about the rivalry with Arizona."
He won eight conference titles in the Border Conference, showing his dynamic range by winning three 440-yard crowns and two half-mile titles between 1958 and 1961. As members of the mile-relay teams during those years, 'Mal' and 'Mel' dominated the conference and came away with three titles.
"My family is incredibly proud of my father's accomplishments," Malcolm Spence III said. "He was a pioneer, and that is a part of his legacy. I am very grateful to this country for what it has done for him and my family."
While representing the British West Indies, the Spence brothers helped the 4x400-meter relay team take gold at the Pan-America Games in 1959. Malcolm also won gold at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1962 and at the Central American and Caribbean Games in the same year, representing his home nation of Jamaica in the 4x400-meter relay.
Outside of his bronze from Rome in 1960, 'Mal' competed at two other Olympics, including Melbourne in 1956 and Tokyo in 1964. At the games in Australia, he finished ninth in the 400, outpacing his twin brother who took 10th.
In 2011, 'Mal' completed a memoir about his and his brother's lives titled, 'The Lives and Times of Mal and Mel'. The book was published in 2011, a year before Mel passed away.
Malcolm was a torchbearer for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kay E. Spence, four children, 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
A gifted sprinter, Spence and his late twin brother Melville "Mel" Spence came to Arizona State in the 1950s and competed under legendary head coach Baldy Castillo. While a Sun Devil, Malcolm earned an All-America honor in the 440-yard dash, becoming the first athlete in school history to take All-America honors in that event and just the ninth to ever score at an NCAA Championships outdoors.
"He would always talk about going to school in the late 50s in Arizona, and how difficult it was at times," his son Malcolm Spence III said. "But he loved his teammates, he loved his coach, he loved the school and he would always talk about the rivalry with Arizona."
He won eight conference titles in the Border Conference, showing his dynamic range by winning three 440-yard crowns and two half-mile titles between 1958 and 1961. As members of the mile-relay teams during those years, 'Mal' and 'Mel' dominated the conference and came away with three titles.
"My family is incredibly proud of my father's accomplishments," Malcolm Spence III said. "He was a pioneer, and that is a part of his legacy. I am very grateful to this country for what it has done for him and my family."
While representing the British West Indies, the Spence brothers helped the 4x400-meter relay team take gold at the Pan-America Games in 1959. Malcolm also won gold at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1962 and at the Central American and Caribbean Games in the same year, representing his home nation of Jamaica in the 4x400-meter relay.
Outside of his bronze from Rome in 1960, 'Mal' competed at two other Olympics, including Melbourne in 1956 and Tokyo in 1964. At the games in Australia, he finished ninth in the 400, outpacing his twin brother who took 10th.
In 2011, 'Mal' completed a memoir about his and his brother's lives titled, 'The Lives and Times of Mal and Mel'. The book was published in 2011, a year before Mel passed away.
Malcolm was a torchbearer for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kay E. Spence, four children, 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.