Jim Gallup 

hirunning on December 26, 2022

James Gallup

(1935-2021)

From 1975 until 1986, Jim (“Skeeter”) Gallup was one of the top runners in the state and one of the leading masters in the country. As he did not begin running until his late 30s, he peaked after age 40 and had his best years between ages 41 and 46. He won a number or Hawaii races overall and often finished among the top five. His performances easily qualify him for the Hawaii Running Hall of Fame. Those performances include:

  • Won the 40-49 division of the 1975 Honolulu Marathon with a 2:43:23 in his second year of running.
  • Won the 40-49 division of the 1976 Honolulu Marathon, which served as the American Athletic Union (AAU) National Masters Championship, with a 2:32:32. The team of Gallup, Faerber and Cadiz won the national team title while representing the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club.
  • Finished fourth in the 40-44 division of the 1977 New York City Marathon while clocking 2:34:53 and teaming with Johnny Faerber and Mike Tymn to again win the AAU national team championship for the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club.
  • Finished second in the 40-49 division of the 1977 Honolulu Marathon with a 2:34:40.
  • Won (overall) the 1977 AAU 50-miler at Schofield Barracks with a time of 5 hours, 53 minutes, and 27 seconds, bettering the American 40-44 record.
  • Finished fourth in the 1977 National AAU 25K Championship (Open, not Masters) at Schofield Barracks with a 1:26:44 (age 41).
  • Placed second overall at age 41 in the first (1977) Norman Tamanaha 15-K with 51:44.9. Improved to 50:04 at age 46 in the 1982 Tamanaha race, finishing second in the Nike Masters Grand Prix that was part of the race.
  • Again won (overall) the 1978 AAU 50-mile race at Schofield Barracks, bettering his time of the previous year with a 5:52.03.
  • Won (overall) the 1978 Primo 50K in Hawaii Kai with a 3:20:15.
  • Won (overall) the 1979 Honsport 30K with a time of 1:48:46.
  • Finished fifth in the 1980 Nike – U.S. Club Road Racing Championship 10K with a 33:42, while teaming with Johnny Faerber and Mike Tymn for second place in the team championship.
  • Teamed with Jerry Clark and Mike Tymn to win the team championship for the Mid-Pacific Roar Runners in the 1980 Nike/Penn Mutual Masters Grand Prix 15K in San Diego.
  • Won (overall) the 1982 Windward Half-Marathon while bettering the American 45-49 age group record with a 1:11:17.
  • Recorded an amazing 2:35:51 at age 50 in the 1985 Honolulu Marathon.
  • Won the 50-54 division of the 1986 Tamanaha 15K, breaking the 50-54 race record with a 52:51.

Dr Jim Gallup was the Head of Pathology at the Honolulu Medical Group, a flight surgeon for the Hawaii Air National Guard, and the athletic trainer for the University of Hawaii Football Team. In 1986, Jim left Hawaii to join the Air Force full time and moved back to Hawaii in 1991 when he retired. He was laid to rest with full military honors at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in 2021 and survived by his two sons Tim and Derek and three grandchildren, Christina, Tyler, and Brandon.