Track & Field, Class of 2003
Ed Caruthers competed on the track & field team in 1964 and 1965 and still holds the school record in the high jump at 7 feet 1-1/2 inches. Caruthers finished eighth in the 1964 Olympics as a freshman at Santa Ana College before winning the silver medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. His silver medal height was 7 feet 3-1/4 inches. One of Caruthers most memorable accomplishments was winning the Olympic Trials in 1964 and the National AAU Championship while attending SAC.
Following his SAC career, Caruthers competed at the University of Arizona and was inducted into the Arizona Hall of Fame. He briefly competed professionally with the Detroit Lions of the NFL as a wide receiver.
Caruthers has taught special education courses in the Garden Grove School District for more than 35 years and is active in the Garden Grove Special Olympics program. Since 1975, Caruthers has been a part-time assistant track coach at SAC tutoring the high, long and triple jumpers. Caruthers coached many of the current sprint record holders at SAC during his tenure. "Ed is a great technician in the art of the jumps," said SAC track & field coach Al Siddons. "His demeanor on and off the track is outstanding. He has great temperament to be a coach and teacher. With his Olympic and international competition background he has instant credibility with the athletes."