Letter of Appreciation

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

19 July 1960

SUBJECT: Olympic Games

TO: Mr. Homer W. Hargiss
Kansas State Athletic Committee
Topeka, Kansas

Dear Bill

1. I have been waiting to hear from you concerning your desires in relation to the trip to Rome. Not hearing from you, I assumed your business was too pressing and you decided against the trip. (Note by Genevieve Hargiss: The first paragraph refers to attending the Olympic games in Rome during the late summer of 1960. Bill decided not to go--said he had enough of traveling in military planes.)

2. I am leaving Sunday for Eugene, Oregon and will not return to Washington until after the Olympic Games. The trip will take about two months which is a long time to be away from home, but after it's over, I shouldn't have too much traveling to do for awhile.

3. I got Kickapoo's check in the mail last week. Am sure he'll be glad to get the money since he's starting his two businesses, etc.

4. Bill, I'd be remiss if I failed to express the appreciation of the Air Force, as well as my own, for the self sacrifice and efficiency in which you conducted the coaching of the U. S. Air Force Track and Field Olympic Training Squad. Haluza, as we expected, won the 20-kilo walk, in Baltimore Sunday. He and I were talking about your wonderful training program and what it did for him. Rothe and Arnold were not in it. Capt Weinacker was second, with 1 1 /2 laps to go and was disqualified. I can't believe a walker of Weinacker's experience and ability would break stride. Nevertheless he is not going to Rome.

5. Give my regards to your family, Fran Welch and thanks again for assisting us in our Track and Field program.

CHARLES E. ALLARD, Lt Col, USAF
Chief, Sports, Crafts & Hobbies
Special Services Branch
Personnel Services Division
Directorate of Military Personnel

Hargiss Receives Air Force Plaque

     Bill Hargiss, executive secretary of the Kansas Athletic Commission, received an engraved plaque at Forbes Air Force base Monday for serving as coach of the Air Force track and field team during last year's Olympic trials.
     Col. James L. Flanagan, base commander, made the presentation. In a letter which accompanied the plaque, Hargiss was cited for his ". . . generosity and self-sacrifice while serving as coach for the Air Force team."