Much to my surprise, and his, in my junior year in high school our track coach discovered a new miler. I also ran the half-mile at times, and, by graduation, had the school record in both events.
Enter Stanford, where I received a full tuition athletic scholarship (I think tuition was $660/year back then). Also in the Class of ’53 was a kid from Tulare named Bob Mathias, so I had a very interesting close up view, on Saturday afternoons in springtime, of our two-time Olympic Decathlon champion (who was a wonderful guy).
At Stanford, my events also included the two-mile run and the distance medley relay. My Block S sweaters occupy a cedar chest today, but I can still wear them and my current weight is within three pounds of when I was in running form, ‘way back then. (Eat your heart out!)
As an undergrad, I also joined the cast of the Big Game Gaieties for a year or two, and designed the cover for its printed program one year. As an alum, I designed the logo for the Stanford Parents Club, wrote the Stanford Centennial Poem, and have also been a Class Volunteer.
Like so many of you, I’ve found that giving back to Stanford is a joy—fun and rewarding in so many ways.