My older brother Mike when he was in high school, was a Cross Country runner. In Spring of 1963, his graduating year, his coach Larry Sroufe decided on a bold plan for the team: they would run a continuous relay from the Mackinac Bridge back to Dewitt. The distance was 237 miles and they alternated runners every 2 miles. They ran non-stop for 49 hours! I do not remember but I would imagine the team had a van with Coach Sroufe and most likely an assistant.
Here, they are coming up Main Street in Dewitt. Mike is to the far right-I remember he grumbled that the photographer should have waited as he was moving into position to be aligned with his teammates. Fun fact, our Dad is the gentleman to the far left and nest to him is Mom, with her handbag, looking like she is clapping.
Home at last! Mike is second from left next to his coach.
They were treated to a banana split at a downtown restaurant. Mike is hidden again in back and I believe the man in the booth next to him behind the pole is our Dad.
That Summer, Mike joined the Air Force. We sent him off to Lackland Air Base in San Antonio, TX from the train station that became Clara's restaurant on Michigan Avenue.
He was seventeen at the time, I was eight with our birthdays coming in September.
Above images are from his high school yearbook.
No comments:
Post a Comment