Lloyd (Bud) Winter - Early Success

Early Success

Before joining SJSC, Winter coached Harold Davis at Hartnell College in Salinas, California to tying the world record in the 100 metres. Davis never had the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, his peak years falling during World War II. During the war, Winter taught relaxation techniques to Naval pilots. Also during that time, Winter invented a life jacket that would automatically inflate if it came in contact with water. It was those same relaxation techniques taught to sprinters that "allowed the speed to come out."

At SJSC, Winter's first success was Willie Steele, who went on to win the 1948 Gold Medal in the long jump. Winter's next success was with Ray Norton, previously from Oakland City College, bringing him to be the number one sprinter in the world and tying the world record in the 100 metres. California State Junior College sprint champion Bob “The Bullet” Poynter (later coach to Millard Hampton and Andre Phillips at Silver Creek High School) to give SJSC the top two sprinters in the world.

Also working with Winter as an assistant coach was Bert Bonanno, who went on to coach across town at San Jose City College. Bonanno later coached many of the athletes involved the 1970s resurgence of San Jose as a Track and Field hotbed, including Hampton, Phillips, John Powell and Bruce Jenner (all Olympic Medalists).