Walter Creed Haymond (December 2, 1893 – March 1983) was an American track and field athlete. He is occasionally cited by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints leaders as an example of the benefits that can result from abiding by the Word of Wisdom, a health code for Latter-day Saints.

Haymond was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from Springville High School and competed in track and field through his high school years. He attended the University of Utah where he lettered 3 times and was the captain of the track team. [1] He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he became the captain of the track team. At the 1919 Inter-Collegiate Association track meet, he broke the world record time for the 220-yard race. Haymond later attributed part of his success that day to his decision the night before to refuse his track coach's offer of sherry, as the Word of Wisdom (found in Section 89 of the Church's Doctrine and Covenants) prohibits consumption of alcohol. This was reminiscent of a promise he made to his mother as a young child that he would never drink tea, coffee, liquor, or tobacco; after they attended a stake conference with a powerful focus on the Word of Wisdom.[2]

Haymond was accepted to compete as a sprinter for the U.S. team at the 1920 Summer Olympics, but he was injured before the competition. In 1920, Haymond became a dentist, so that he could advocate more people of the benefits of the Word of Wisdom. He was one of the patriarchs of the Cottonwood Stake when James E. Faust was the president of that stake. Haymond was a vocal advocate of the Word of Wisdom.

He died in March of 1983 and his wife, Elna Parkinson Haymond, of 61 years, died the same day of a heart attack.

Contributor: J. Chris Griffith (47168563)