Piedmont High, Cal track and field star
Montague “Monte” Middleton Upshaw, an amateur track and field wunderkind at Piedmont High and Cal, died July 26 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 81.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, his previous wife, Carol, and their four children ( Joy Upshaw, Montague “Chip” Upshaw Jr., Merry Irwin and Grace Tyler) and 13 grandchildren — many of whom carry on Mr. Upshaw’s legacy in track.
Mr. Upshaw was enshrined in the Cal Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Upshaw Family Long Jump at the annual Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Edwards Stadium is named in his family's honor. Joy Upshaw was an assistant track coach for the Bears, and Grace Tyler was a two-time Olympian in the long jump.
It all started with Mr. Upshaw, who moved to Piedmont from Carmel shortly after his birth. He was named the Northern California Prep of the Year in 1953 and 1954 by The Chronicle for his football and track successes.
As a senior, he leaped 25 feet, 4½ inches in the long jump, breaking the prep world record that Jessie Owens held for 21 years. Mr. Upshaw also tied a national high school record of 18.8 seconds in the 180-meter high hurdles.
At Cal, Mr. Upshaw set the Cal freshman marks in the long jump and 220-yard hurdles. Despite a knee injury that thwarted his career as a sophomore, Mr. Upshaw returned as a senior to set a record in the sprint medley relay with Jack Yerman, Willie White and Don Bowden.
“His presence uplifted all of us,” said Bowden, the first American to run a sub-fourminute mile. “… Although his athletic accomplishments were numerous and world class, Monte will also be remembered as a great human being, a teammate that was always there for you and a friend for life.”
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Claremont Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Oakland Boys & Girls Club, the Big C Society or other charities.