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Upton was the son of the former Mary Ellen Berry (1928-2015) and Rufus Horace Upton (1924–1983),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/mary-ellen-berry-upton/|title=Mary Ellen Berry Upton|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref> a captain in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]]. Upton graduated in 1967 from Minden High School.<ref name=jagan/>​

Upton was the son of the former Mary Ellen Berry (1928-2015) and Rufus Horace Upton (1924–1983),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/mary-ellen-berry-upton/|title=Mary Ellen Berry Upton|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref> a captain in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]]. Upton graduated in 1967 from Minden High School.<ref name=jagan/>​

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Upton played [[basketball]] too, but it was as a track runner, under coaches James Steven "Steve" Jordan (1936-2013) and William Otto "Bill" Huth, Jr. (1937-2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=william-huth&pid=173779137&fhid=10239|title=William Huth|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=January 8, 2015}}</ref> that he most excelled. It was not until 1962 that the Minden Crimson Tide secured its first district track championship under Coach Jordan. In 1963, MHS won the state football championship against a team from Lafourche Parish. The school then sought a state championship in track and field in addition to its four football, two basketball, and one baseball championships earned by the boys teams and the swimming titles received by the girls. Minden won the state track championship for Class AA. Upton was a freshman that year with little indication of the star he would become.<ref name=jagan>{{cite web|url=http://northovertonnotes.blogspot.com/|title=Echoes of the Past: Remembering Jimmy Upton|author=John Allison Agan|date=September 1, 2012|publisher=North Overton Notes|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>​

Upton played [[basketball]] too, but it was as a track runner, under Coaches James Steven "Steve" Jordan (1936-2013) and William Otto "Bill" Huth, Jr. (1937-2015),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=william-huth&pid=173779137&fhid=10239|title=William Huth|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=January 8, 2015}}</ref> that he most excelled. It was not until 1962 that the Minden Crimson Tide secured its first district track championship under Coach Jordan. In 1963, MHS won the state football championship against a team from Lafourche Parish. The school then sought a state championship in track and field in addition to its four football, two basketball, and one baseball championships earned by the boys teams and the swimming titles received by the girls. Minden won the state track championship for Class AA. Upton was a freshman that year with little indication of the star he would become.<ref name=jagan>{{cite web|url=http://northovertonnotes.blogspot.com/|title=Echoes of the Past: Remembering Jimmy Upton|author=John Allison Agan|date=September 1, 2012|publisher=North Overton Notes|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>​

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In 1965, Upton completed the 120 hurdles in a time of 15.9, beating his senior teammate, Michael Edward "Mike" Holliday (1947-2001). However, by the middle of the season, Upton gave up his place on the relay teams and competed only in the hurdles. At the district meet, Upton ran the 120 hurdles in a third-place time of 16.4 seconds. The Tide went on to earn the regional and the state championships.<ref name=jagan/>  

In 1965, Upton completed the 120 hurdles in a time of 15.9, beating his senior teammate, Michael Edward "Mike" Holliday (1947-2001). However, by the middle of the season, Upton gave up his place on the relay teams and competed only in the hurdles. At the district meet, Upton ran the 120 hurdles in a third-place time of 16.4 seconds. The Tide went on to earn the regional and the state championships.<ref name=jagan/>