European Athletics is deeply saddened to learn of the death of its Honorary Council Member John Lister on Saturday (6) at the age of 81.
Lister was hugely respected in the sport having been active on and off the track for more than 60 years.
He first gained recognition for his achievements as an athlete in the1960s, winning 12 Welsh titles in the sprint hurdles, high jump and decathlon. His first Welsh title, in the 1960 high jump, came while he was still a teenager.
However, in many respects, he achieved even greater success and admiration as an administrator.
In 1968, while still in his 20s, he helped broker the amalgamation of two local clubs to form Cardiff AAC and they remain one of the powerhouses of British athletics.
He then went on to hold many administrative positions in British domestic athletics for the next 30 years, especially in the area of finance - he was the treasurer of the national governing body of British athletics for 13 years - and he was instrumental in the creation of the British Athletics Federation in 1991, which modernised the structures of the sport in Great Britain and Norther Ireland.
Continental recognition of his abilities came when he was elected to what was then the EAA Council in 1995 and he was re-elected on two further occasions - being closely involved in the delivery of the 2002 and 2006 European Athletics Championships - before standing down in 2007 and being awarded the status of European Athletics Honorary Council Member.
“I have very fond memories of John and we knew each other quite well. He was standing down from the European Athletics Council in 2007 and I was elected at that’s year’s Congress for the first time but he gave me much valuable advice of how Council business is conducted and the key issues that faced European Athletics at that time, and many of his comments resonate to this day," remembered European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov.
“As an Honorary Council Member, we were glad to welcome him at many European Athletics events after 2007. I was always a great pleasure to see him and receive his wisdom and thoughts. He will be much missed, by both me personally and the European Athletics family as a whole and my thoughts at this sad time are with his family and all those that knew him,” added the European Athletics Presidient.
Outside of athletics, Lister was a successful businessman especially in the area of real estate
His contribution to athletics was further recognised when he received the prestigious honour of being created a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010.
European Athletics wishes to pass on its sincere condolences to John's family and his many friends, as well as to Cardiff AAC and Welsh Athletics.