95-year-old discus champion sitting on top of the world

They call him "Mr. Fancy Pants" at his West Seattle retirement complex because of the brightly colored fabric he added to the outside seams of his pant legs.

But, Leon Joslin, 95, takes it in good humor because he's used to standing out. This summer he earned the world championship in the discus for the 95-99 age group with a toss of 52 feet, 8 inches, beating the record by 4 inches, at a sanctioned meet in Redmond. He previously held discus world championships in other age groups.

And looking forward to next year's track-and-field season, he works out five days a week in 30-minute sessions.

These "no sweat" workouts keep up arm strength — 125 repetitions on one machine, two-thirds of a mile on a treadmill and 10 minutes on the "seated stepper" moving his arms and legs back and forth.

Joslin grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., and was captain of the South High basketball team, "playing every position and being chosen 'All City' three years running."

At almost 6 feet "they called me Big Joss. I looked big."

On the football team, he started along with center and captain Gerald Ford.

"Joss" played left end on both offense and defense. The team won the state championship in 1930.

Joslin attended Ohio State University, joining the freshman track team that featured future Olympian Jesse Owens.

But the Depression and lack of tuition money brought him back to his hometown. It didn't matter, since his high-school sweetheart, Betty, was there.

They married and were together just short of 67 years, until her death two years ago.

Every year in Grand Rapids, the members of the championship football team held a Thanksgiving reunion until Ford became president.

That year, 1974, they met in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Now, Joslin is the only remaining starter from that team.

Though competitors are few, his winning spirit is still keen.

And in senior track and field he has only one more age group to conquer — 100 to 105.

Alan Berner: 206-464-8133 or aberner@seattletimes.com