CHICAGO (August 28, 2019) – The Loyola University Chicago community mourns the passing of Ramblers cross country/track legend Tom O'Hara, who passed away yesterday. 
 
"This is a sad day for Loyola Athletics. Tom O'Hara is a legend not only at Loyola, but also in his sport," Loyola Director of Athletics Steve Watson said. "For as accomplished as Tom was on the course and track, he was unbelievably humble and a true gentleman. Tom will be sorely missed by those of us in the Loyola community and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."
 
O'Hara's accomplishments are plentiful, and he made a name for himself by capturing the NCAA individual cross country championship during the 1962-63 school year and he went on to represent the United States in the 1,500m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. 
 
"This is a tough loss for the Loyola Athletics, Chicagoland and running communities," Loyola head cross country/track and field coach Bob Thurnhoffer said. "The name Tom O'Hara is synonymous with Loyola Athletics. That iconic image of Tom on the cover of Sports Illustrated is something that has inspired Ramblers over half a decade and Tom's incredible achievements have shown our department that anything is possible through hard work, humility, and service. Tom's legend spans across the Chicagoland area and still inspires our team to this day. We lost quite possibly the greatest Rambler of all time today, but Tom's legacy and inspiration lives on in the hearts and minds of our community and is forever intertwined in the Maroon and Gold."
 
In 1964, the Chicago native, who attended Saint Ignatius College Prep, established the indoor world mile record with a mark of 3:56.6 in New York, then one month later, bettered that world-record time with a 3:56.4 at the Chicago Stadium. One year earlier, he had become the first Illinois runner to break the four-minute barrier (3:59.4). Watch Tom's world-record run at Chicago Stadium here. 
 
Service information is pending.