Jesse Stuart, a national champion shot putter and a member of the WKU Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away Monday at 73 in Branson, Missouri.
Stuart was a member of WKU’s Track and Field team from 1973-1975, wininng an NCAA national championship in 1974. He brought home three NCAA runner-up titles and three Ohio Valley Conference shot put championships to the Hil. Stuart’s decorated career earned him spots on the Ohio Valley Conference Half Century Team and in the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Stuart also earned five All-American honors at WKU. He was an indoor and outdoor All-American in 1973 and 1974 and was earned his third consecutive outdoor All-American honors in 1975. He currently holds both the indoor and outdoor shot put record marks at WKU.
His number was retired at the Hilltopper Relays Meet in 2023.
WKU Track and Field Head Coach Brent Chumbley called Stuart a “true legend of track and field” in a press release from WKU Athletics.
“The news of his passing spread quickly throughout the WKU alumni community and the USA Track and Field. He will be greatly missed and remembered fondly,” Chumbley said. “An autographed picture of Jesse hangs in our office and reminds us what is possible here at WKU.”
Stuart etched his shot put legacy in other parts of the Bluegrass as well. Before transferring to WKU, he won an SEC shot put championship at the University of Kentucky in 1971. Stuart holds the Kentucky High School Athletics Association boys shot put throw record, with a 67-0 mark he recorded at Glasgiw High School in 1969.
He is a member of the KHSAA and Glasgow High School Hall’s of Fame
Professionally, Stuart won three silver medals with Team USA at the Pan-American and Mason Dixon Games and won the U.S. Open Track and Field Championships in 1980.
Sports Editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected].