James Humphrey was a three-year member of the Denison cross country and track teams and served as captain of both. In the fall of 1932, he set the cross country course records for both the four-mile and the 4 ½ -mile events. He also set a school record for the 880-yard run (1:59.4) which stood from 1933 until 1953. In 1933, the Denison team won the OIAA track and field championship and Humphrey claimed individual championships in the 440 yard dash and the 880-yard run. He was also undefeated in the 440 for two years. Humphrey was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity during his undergraduate days in Granville.

After graduation from Denison, Humphrey served as Director of Health and Physical Education for the Bedford City Schools (Ohio) from 1937-1949. In 1951 he received his doctorate from Boston University, and was appointed as a professor of physical education and health at the University of Maryland form 1953 to 1981.