Langton, Jimmy (1918–87), hurler, was born 18 January 1918 in Lavistown, Co. Kilkenny, one of seven children of James Langton, farmer, and Mary Langton (née Long). Educated at James’ St. CBS in Kilkenny city, he worked in Padmore & Barnes boot factory prior to becoming a rate collector for Kilkenny county council, a post he held till retirement.
His hurling career began at school, where he won three Leinster and one inter-provincial college titles during 1934–6. After winning two all-Ireland minor championships with Kilkenny (1935, 1936), he was selected for his senior county debut in the 1938 Leinster final against Dublin, having made a good impression in a junior game earlier that afternoon. He won the first of two all-Ireland senior hurling championships with Kilkenny in 1939 when they defeated Cork in the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final, a game in which he scored three points. In the following year's all-Ireland final, he captained the Kilkenny team that lost to the Limerick team of Mick Mackey (qv). After a decline in the early 1940s, when Kilkenny were defeated in the championships by Dublin (1942), Antrim (1943), and Wexford (1944), they reached the all-Ireland final again in 1945 after Langton scored the winning point in the semi-final against Galway, but were defeated by Tipperary. He was one of the stars of Kilkenny's Leinster final victory over Dublin in 1946, but they were defeated decisively in that year's all-Ireland final by the great Cork team that included Christy Ring (qv) and Jack Lynch (qv). Although he missed Kilkenny's 1947 Leinster final victory over Dublin, he played an influential role in their all-Ireland semi-final victory over Galway and gave an excellent first-half display in the all-Ireland final defeat of Cork, winning his second all-Ireland medal. In the all-Ireland final of 1950 he scored 0–6 of Kilkenny's 0–7 in the first half; but after a very poor second half performance, in which he missed three frees, Kilkenny lost by a point to Tipperary. Another missed free in the 1953 all-Ireland semi-final against Galway prevented Kilkenny from drawing the game. He made his last championship appearance for Kilkenny in 1954, when they were defeated by Wexford.
His principal honours include two all-Ireland minor hurling championships (1935, 1936); two all-Ireland senior hurling championships (1939, 1947); eight Leinster senior hurling titles (1939, 1940, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1953); two railway cup medals with Leinster (1941, 1954); two oireachtas medals (1940, 1947); and ten Kilkenny county titles in minor, junior, intermediate, and senior hurling, and minor and junior football. In Kilkenny he played his club hurling with the now defunct Éire Óg club in the city, and also played Gaelic football with St Magdalen's and Éire Óg.
Considered one of the most stylish hurlers of his time, he usually played in the half forward line and was selected in the right half forward position on the GAA hurling team of the century in 1984 and on the hurling team of the millennium in 2000, making him an inductee of the GAA hall of fame; a commemorative stamp was issued for the occasion. He also received a Bank of Ireland all-time all-star award in 1984 and a hall of fame award from the Kilkenny sports stars committee in 1985. In 1957–9 he represented Kilkenny on the GAA's central council. In addition to hurling he played Gaelic football, basketball, and soccer, opposing the GAA's ban on foreign games. His hobbies included fishing, gardening, and greyhounds. He died 18 April 1987 at his home, 33 Dominic St., Kilkenny.
He married (1947) Nancy, daughter of Michael Lennon, tailor, and Mary Ellen Lennon; they had one son and one daughter.