Only one-tenth of a second short of qualifying for Olympic competition, Bobby James set state and AAU records while hurdling for Old Dominion University from 1959 to 1962.

A state champion in 1961 and 1962, the two-year team captain also led his team to a Little Eight title in 1961. In addition to competing in both hurdles, the long jump, and sometimes the 100-yard dash, he drove the team bus, acted as a student intramural director, smoothed the Foreman Field track, and worked in the cafeteria.

Since graduating from Old Dominion, James served as president of the Virginia Middle School Association and principal of Hines Middle School in Newport News.