Duluthian Jim Greenfield Inducted Into Grandma’s Marathon Hall Of Fame
Grandma's Marathon announced that longtime volunteer Jim Greenfield will be inducted into the Class of 2022 Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame.
Jim Greenfield passed away in July of 2021 due to his long battle with prostate cancer. His contributions to Grandma's Marathon were widespread. He was a volunteer for more than 40 years and started his tenure by updating results and serving on the pre-race setup and post race clean-up, then took over in 1993 as the primary media vehicle driver.
That's how I got to know him. From producing the race broadcast, I would give him directions for where to line up, how to power up the equipment, where to pick up the talent, and where to leave the vehicle and equipment when done.
In a press release from Grandma's Marathon Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said that Jim was exactly the type of person that made it possible for the race to grow into what it is today. He will be missed because he was always willing to do what it took to get things done.
Jim used to bring his grandchildren with him in the vehicle with him and even got his wife to do some volunteer work. Elaine worked with race packet distribution.
Jim's son Steve always said his Dad has the hardest job because he had the lead Women's vehicle and had runners all around him. So he had to weave and control his speed to avoid runners and make it so the media could call the race for the radio with a clear shot of the action.
Greenfield got his whole family involved with the race and pass some of his love and enthusiasm on to his daughter Linda Spencer, who has run the race 15 times, and the Garry Bjorklund Half Mile Race. In 2015, she presented him a quilt made out of past Grandma's Marathon T-shirts.
Greenfield was officially inducted into the Grandma’s Marathon Hall of Fame during a virtual ceremony with both Steve and Linda attending. Greenfield joins Rick Recker as the two announced members of the six-person Class of 2022.
The rest of the Class of 2022, which will be the largest since the Hall of Fame’s inaugural year in 1996, will be named and inducted virtually throughout the buildup to Grandma’s Marathon weekend.