Funeral Set for Olympian and Former Houston Sprinter Kirk Baptiste
3/28/2022 9:00:00 AM | General, Track and Field
NCAA Champion was member of 1983-85 Cougar track program
HOUSTON – Olympian and former University of Houston sprinter Kirk Baptiste passed away Thursday. He was 59 years old.
As a member of Houston's Track & Field program from 1983-85, Baptiste was a two-time NCAA Champion in the 200 meters including setting the NCAA record in the event at the 1985 NCAA Championships with a time of 20.03.
Baptiste competed for the United States in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he won the silver medal in the 200 meters with a time of 19.96. It was the first time anyone had finished with a sub-20 second time and finished runner-up. His former teammate and friend Carl Lewis won the event.
"I'm still processing the loss of my good friend Kirk Baptiste," Lewis said. "Since the day he walked on campus, he was like a close brother. We went through so much together and it was a joy to watch him develop. My best memory was in 1984 when we stayed in the same home for the Olympics – our first together. He then went on to be an activist, counselor and leader for all communities. He was a founding member of what we call #HTownSpeedCity. We're all going to miss him, but I'll miss his laugh the most."
The Beaumont, Texas, native decided to forgo his final season at the University of Houston after his successful run at the Olympics and another NCAA Championship title. He went on to be a gold medalist in the 200 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Indianapolis.
"Kirk was one of the first people I met on my recruiting visit to the University of Houston back in 1985," Houston Head Track and Field Coach Leroy Burrell said. "He was a big part of the reason why I chose to come here as a student-athlete with Olympic aspirations. He grew to be a training partner, teammate, mentor and friend. He was a beloved member of the Cougar track and field family and made a point to return to campus frequently for UHTF Alumni events. He was a tremendous athlete that rightly belongs among the greatest of Houston Cougar Athletes as a Hall of Honor member but more importantly, he was a great friend. The University of Houston Athletics Family lost one of its greats in Kirk Baptiste."
Baptiste was inducted into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008. As the University of Houston celebrated the "75 years of Houston Athletics" in 2021-22, Baptiste was honored as one of the greatest student-athletes in school history.
Funeral Information
The funeral for Kirk Baptist will be held this Saturday, April 2nd at 2 pm CT at Paradise South Cemetery in Pearland, TX. Those who wish to make a donation or contribution to the Omega House in Houston in Kirk's name can do so at the link below.
Donations and Contributions:
Omega House
Funeral Address:
Paradise South Cemetery
2237 Cullen Blvd.
Pearland, TX 77581