- Jan 1 Andy Oberlander, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Dartmouth College; National C'ship 1954), dies at 62
- Jan 2 Marvin 'Bud' Ward, American golfer (US Amateur 1939, 41), dies of cancer at 54
- Jan 9 Kokichi Tsuburaya, Japanese marathoner (Olympic bronze 1964), commits suicide
- Jan 15 Bill Masterton, Canadian American NHL player, first to be fatally injured during a game (Jan 13), dies at 29
- Jan 19 Ray Harroun, American auto racer (inaugural Indianapolis 500 1911; Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2000), dies at 89
- Jan 22 Duke Kahanamoku, American swimmer, surfer (Olympic gold 100m freestyle 1912, 20; 4x200m freestyle relay 1920), dies of a heart attack at 77
- Jan 29 Laxmidas Purshottamdas Jai, Indian cricket batsman (1 Test; captain Bombay in inaugural Ranji Trophy win 1935), dies at 66
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