Leo Cloutier

The Natural.

Leo Cloutier came to running very late in life but set a remarkable standard of excellence once he arrived.

Cloutier was born on April 16, 1909 and spent his entire life in the Brunswick area. As a 10-year-old, he played baseball on an empty field on McKeen Street in Brunswick. He quit school in the 8th grade to go to work. His first job was as a shoeshine boy at the railroad station near his home in Brunswick. Then, following in his father's footsteps, he worked for the railroad. It was during this time that Leo joined a traveling baseball team.

When the depression hit, work with the railroad dwindled, so in 1938 Leo began working for the Bath Iron Works.

Leo worked for the Bath Iron Works from 1938 to 1974, when he had to retire due to poor health. Arthritis had crippled him so badly he could hardly walk. In an effort to restore his health, he went to the Bowdoin College track and began walking up and down the football field. Soon he went from walking in the field to running on the track, and at the age of 66 he suddenly began to set world records and earn gold medals.

What follows is a list of his accomplishments over a 15-year period, 1975 through 1990, at ages 66 through 81.

1975: At age 66, he broke the world 100 meter dash record by nearly 1 second, clocking 13.4, and at the Greater Bangor Open Invitational Meet, he set a world record in the 12-pound shot put with a 25-feet, 8-inch toss.

1976: At age 67, he broke the world record in the 16 pound hammer throw with a toss of 56 feet. He broke the record with each of three successive throws!

1977: At age 68, at the Greater Bangor Open, he broke the 100 meter world record by a full second with a 14:1 clocking. Later that year, he again broke his own world record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.9.

1979: At age 69, he set a world record in power lifting for his size and age, lifting 325 pounds.

1983: At age 74, he completed 35 miles in 24 hours in the Rowdy Ultimate 24 Hour Run.

1985: At age 76, he completed 46 miles in 24 hours in the Rowdy Ultimate 24 Hour Run.

1988: Leo missed a world record indoor attempt in the 60 meter dash, clocking 9.9 (28/100 of a second off the world record).

1989: At age 80, State of Maine and National Records in the Senior Games 100 meters at 17.46 seconds.

1990: At age 81, first place in the Maine Senior Games 100 meter dash in 17.67 seconds.
He also won the mile race walk and the football throw. He continued to compete in the Senior Games through 1995.

Leo also served as a track official at Bowdoin College from 1972 until 1998 when he was 89 years old. He was honored with the title "Track Official Emeritus" by Bowdoin track coach Peter Slovenski.

In the memorabilia collected by Leo over the years, there was a treasure-trove of his life's athletic accomplishments:

There were autographed pictures of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Malzone, and Bill Cohen. There was a 1989 copy of Sports Illustrated with Leo featured in "Faces in the Crowd." Ford Motors made a film on Leo, and he was featured on CBS and NBC. There were numerous Times Record, Portland Press Herald, and Pejepscot Cryer newspaper articles about Leo. There were dozens of certificates and awards, including an All-American Masters Track and Field Certificate from the TAC, a certificate from the State of Maine Senate and House of Representatives honoring Leo, and a letter from the Congress of the United States, signed by Congressman Brennan, recognizing Leo for his many achievements.

Leo Cloutier died on June 7, 2000, just 13 days before his election to the Maine Running Hall of Fame.