V 2 N. 4 A Search for Information on Coach George Dales, Western Michigan University and Info About XC in the 1960's

 Professor  of History Bruce Geelhoed, Ball State University has asked that I put out a search for information for a book he is preparing to write on George Dales, the coach at Western Michigan University in the 1960's.  As you may recall, Western Michigan won the NCAA cross country championships in 1964 (East Lansing) and 1965 (Lawrence, KS).   Since "Once Upon a Time in the Vest" has covered some of that story, Bruce got in touch with me to see what else might be out there in the minds and files of our readers.  

                                                  1965 Champs on the way home

We have contact with some of the WMU alums, but we are hoping that there might be more out there who can add to the story.  

Several other things from that 1960's era are of interest to Bruce and my conversation with him may have added a few more questions. 

                                                         1964 Western Michigan NCAA Champs

1.  What you can tell him about George Dales, Western Michigan coach who had two NCAA champion teams in mid 60's.

2. What were the events that led up to going away from having the meet at East Lansing after 30+ years when it went to Lawrence, Kansas in 1965 and John Lawson of Kansas won the race.  John has already indicated to me that Coach Bill Easton of Kansas was a player in that decision to move the race away from East Lansing.

3. How was going from 4 miles up to 6 miles accepted and what did teams do to prepare?  In those days the Big 8 Conference only ran three miles in their XC meets.

4.  Also when did it go from your coach deciding to take runners individually or as a team to nationals as opposed to having to qualify as a team or individual?   How did that change your university's approach to the sport?

5. What do you know of the fact that College Division and eventually D II and DIII were allowed to run individuals and even teams in the DI race  or University Division race?  Did the Big School coaches want to get rid of that opportunity because of loss of All American status to their runners through displacement by DII or DIII runners?  

My added questions:

1. If you were a college runner in those days how did the freshman ineligible rule affect your career?  Did your college have any events for you to compete in as a frosh?

2. If you were at a West Coast or South or Southwest university, what were your cross country team goals if you were not going to nationals in those days ?

3. What turned the tide that led those western, southern, and southwestern schools to start competing at nationals.  I know that one or two individuals would occasionally show up at East Lansing.  Remember that picture of Max Truex in Sports Illustrated running in the snow at MSU?  

You can contact Bruce directly at:   bgeelhoed@bsu.edu

On a side note (editorial license) I'm including a link to a series of newspaper articles on the career of Max Truex from his days as a national high school mile record holder in 1954 to his obituary.

Max Truex  link

 

               Photo shows the West did come to Michigan State.  Max Truex following  Forbes Kennedy? and Deacon Jones of Iowa (winner in 1955)  Cold weather probably wasn't anything new for Max as he hailed from Warsaw, Indiana only 124 miles southeast of East Lansing.