Sport: Track & Field
Born: December 29, 1927
Died: June 15, 1985
Town: Jersey City, New Jersey
Andrew William Stanfield was born December 29, 1927 in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Jersey City, NJ. Andy’s explosive speed made him unbeatable in foot races as a boy and he excelled as a sprinter and long jumper as a student at Linclon High School. Following a stint in the army after World War II, he enrolled at Seton Hall, where he was coached by Johnny Gibson—who was early in his 27-year coaching career in South Orange. Gibson was a legendary hurdler and he turned Andy into an excellent hurdler—in addition to developing him as a sprinter and long jumper.
Andy began racking up national titles in the spring of 1949, winning AAU championships in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Because of nagging injuries that limited him in the 60 yards and 100 meters, the 200 became his strongest distance. In 1951, Andy won the AAU indoor title in the long jump. A year later, he was the AAU 200 meters champion. During his college career, he won 8 of a possible 9 IC4-A sprint titles, both indoors and outdoors. Andy often competed against fellow New Jerseyan Meredith “Flash” Gourdine, star of Cornell’s track team.
After graduating from Seton Hall in 1952, Andy ran for the Pioneer Athletic Club in New York. Andy was the world record holder at 200 meters heading into the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. He shook off a sore thigh muscle to win the gold medal in the 200. He finished ahead of fellow Americans Thane Baker and Jimmy Gathers. Andy also ran the anchor leg in the 4 x 100. They were co-favorites with the vaunted Soviet squad. The Soviets opened up a lead after the first two legs, but 100 meters champion Lindy Remigino made up the ground and gave Andy the baton even with their opponents. Andy turned on the jets and beat Vladimir Sukharev to the finish by two meters.
Andy ran the 200 in a world-record 20.6 seconds during his career. He was also part of a the US team that shattered the world record in the 4 x 220 relay. Under the coaching of Joe Yancey, he continued to dominate in the 200 meters during the mid-1950s. Andy attempted to defend his gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, but could not hold an early lead and was edged by Bobby Morrow, settling for a silver medal.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Andy carved out a career in the computer business. He headed a computer-science school in New Jersey in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In 1969, Andy and his family were featured in a Coca-Cola campaign. He passed away in Livingston in 1985 at the age of 57.