Air Force Assignment to Hargiss
K.C. STAR, JANUARY 31, 1960

An old friend and former coach at Kansas, Bill Hargiss, is going to play an important role in the Olympics this year.

For some years Bill has served as athletic commissioner for the state of Kansas. Recently he was chosen to head the Air Force Olympic program. He will be stationed, with the rank of colonel, in California where all the best athletes now in the Air Force will do their training.

There were several applicants for this task but Bill was chosen, to his great delight. He is on his way to assume the job which will require his services for some six or eight months.

Hargiss will be in charge of all sports on the Olympic games agenda for the Air Force and hopes to have this service well represented on the American team.

 

Hargiss Coaches Again
Topeka Capital January 31, 1960
By BOB HURT
Capital-Journal Sports Editor

Air Force Signs 74-Year-Old Veteran (age is incorrect--he was 72)

At the age of 74 most folks are happy to settle for a rockin' chair. Not Bill Hargiss. Although only recently recovered from a four-week siege in a hospital, Hargiss is eager to resume a coaching career which already has spanned 35 years.

"It's a mental diversion I think I will enjoy," said the dapper Hargiss. My doctors think so too. It will be good for me physically and mentally."

Hargiss recently has accepted a four-months assignment from the Air Force to coach its top track and field athletes for the National AAU meet and the Olympic trials. Spiked shoe standouts from all parts of the world will gather at Oxnard Air Force base near Los Angeles to work under his guidance from March until July.

Hargiss, now executive secretary of the State Athletic Commission turned down one request from the Pentagon brass earlier before he accepted the assignment. The first invitation came when he was in the hospital recovering from a kidney operation.

"I didn't feel like breathing let alone coaching," he explained.

The Air Force tried again recently. Hargiss accepted after getting the approval of his personal doctor and a surgeon, and being granted a leave of absence by the State Commission.

Although he has coached all sports, Hargiss concedes that track and field is his favorite. "You find out more about a track boy—inside and outside," he explained.

Hargiss vows that none of the Air Force athletes in his charge will be subjected to over-coaching. "We'll just keep them on a training program," he said. "My job is to administrate the program and see that the boys get in shape mentally and physically for the trials."

While the Air Force team will compete in some tune up meets, Hargiss insists that no effort will be made to make a strong team showing. He feels that the strong team spirit in U.S. track may be a weakness in the system.

"If we had boys concentrate on one event, as they do in Europe, and get away from this team thing, I believe we'd have more champions," he said. "We're going to let the boys work on their events and not be concerned with team scoring."

Hargiss, so far, doesn't know just who the Air Force will send to the Oxnard training camp. Available are such standouts as Rafer Johnson, Max Truex and Bob Dellinger.

Top-notch track athletes will be no novelty to Hargiss. In coaching at College of Emporia, Emporia State, Oregon State, and the University of Kansas, he has had his share of standouts.  Among his products are such renowned cinder stars as Jim Bausch, Elwin Dees and Glen Cunningham.

"I've had some good ones," admitted Hargiss on reflecting. "But I've never had as many at one time as I'll have with the Air Force. These boys will be assembled from all over. They're not going to cut boys loose from those bases just for a holiday. They'll pick boys who have good marks. It will be a great experience."