Legacy Fund Bike Ride Brings Together Stockton Community

G. Larry James spent nearly four decades working at the Richard Stockton College as the school's athletic director and dean of athletics and recreational programs before cancer ended his life in 2008.

James was also a legendary athlete who won both a gold and silver medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

After his death, some of his colleagues at the school knew what they should do: Start a fund in his honor. So, in 2008 the Legacy Fund was created, holding its first annual run and then, in 2009, holding the first Legacy Fund Bike Ride.

On Saturday, the fourth annual Legacy Fund Bike Ride was held, and it was attended not only by James' friends and family, but also residents of Galloway, current Stockton students, colleagues, and cyclists who were simply there for the scenic ride.

All of the proceeds from the event go to the fund, which provides scholarships for two students per year at the school.

Associate Dean of Students Craig Staumbaugh was one of the founders of the event, and he said on Saturday they have been working to make the event grow every year. In four years, $80,000 has been raised.

80 riders participated in this year's event, some Stockton students, some alumni, some Galloway township residents and others who traveled from surrounding states and counties to join in the ride.

James' wife Cynthia was the first to pedal off on Saturday morning, heading down trails that went along W. Liebig Ave. to N. Mannheim Ave., then, depending on how far the rider planned to go, heading either east or west on Clark's Landing Rd. There was a 14-mile, a 32-mile, and a 62-mile course.

The 62-mile course made its way down Route 563 through the Wharton State Forest.

Among the day's participants was 97-year-old Helene Young of Galloway, who rode 14 miles with three friends to honor their friend Denise Delaney, a Pleasantville social studies teacher who rode with them last year but recently passed away from cancer. Delaney was a Stockton graduate.

"We decided to do this as a memorial to her," said Young.

Another group of riders, team "Slow as Turtles," included two of James' coworkers from the athletics department at the school, Jim Gwathney and Paul Chambers.

"Larry was an olympic athlete, and that's how he ran his department," said Chambers. "He was a man that desired excellence."

The scholarship fund rewards excellence, but not only in athletics—the scholarships go to any deserving students at the school, as decided by an application process and reviewed by a committee.

"Larry was an advocate for all students, not just for athletes," said Arnaldo Cordero, and associate professor of Spanish at Stockton and the other co-founder of the event.

Other than the annual bike ride, there is also an annual run which, this year, will be held on October 7 and is open to anyone. The run is a 5K, but there is also a two-mile walk on Stockton's track, which is named for James.

"They called him 'The Mighty Burner,'" said Gwathney.