Athlete. In the annals of Nebraska athletic history, this 1920 graduate of Falls City High School ranks very high, for at one time during the 1920s he was America’s finest middle distance runners and one of the best in the world. Starting his track career in high school, it is interesting that he starred in shorter events, the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash and the quarter mile. He set records all over the place in those events. Then after high school, he pursued self-improvement on his own, especially in longer races, the middle distances. Success came quickly. He was a member of the 1924 and the 1928 US Olympic Teams and at one time held world records at 800 meters, 880 yards, 1000 yards, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, the three-fourths mile and the indoor mile while running for the Boston Athletic Association. He eventually returned to farming outside of Falls City, and became a good friend and coach to the great Gil Dobbs, another great runner from Falls City.
