| |
Bill Hargiss - Honorary Referee at the Kansas Relays, 1974
April 1974
The final afternoon of the Kansas Relays in 1974 was
a gratifying time for Bill. Friends, many of them from out of town, came to his
home for lunch or supper and some came for both--it was open house all day. During
the meet he and his daughter Shirley were driven around the track in a golf cart.
He was happy and tired that night, but he talked energetically with his guests as
long as any of them would stay.
Honorary Referee
The Kansas Relays committee proudly recognizes Bill
Hargiss, former University of Kansas track and football coach, as the honorary referee
of the 1974 Relays.
Hargiss, now retired and living in Lawrence, was track
coach for the Jayhawks 11 years from 1933 to 1943. He also tutored the KU football
program for four years and posted an 18-16-2 record.
Today he is recognized as playing a major role in establishing
the Kansas Relays as one of the country's top relay carnivals.
His college coaching career included stops at College of
Emporia, Oregon State, Emporia State and Kansas. He coached both track and football
at Emporia State and Kansas with his teams enjoying outstanding success.
He began his career at Kansas in 1928. Among his many well
known track athletes at KU were Glenn Cunningham, world record holder in the mile
for a number of years; Jim Bausch, who in 1932 set the Olympic record in the decathlon,
and John Kuck, who won the shot put in the 1928 Olympics.
Honorary Title For Hargiss
Lawrence, Kan.—Bill Hargiss today was named honorary referee
of the 49th Kansas Relays. The K.U. track carnival goes under the gun Wednesday
and runs through April 20 in Memorial Stadium.
"Bill is one of the people responsible for the Kansas Relays
having a long established tradition of excellence," said Bob Timmons, the K.U. coach
and meet director. "We hope this will in some way honor him for the role he has
played in the meet's success."
Hargiss was graduated in 1909 from Emporia (Kan.) State
(then known as Kansas State Normal) and played football. basketball, track and baseball
for the Hornets. His college coaching career included stops at College of Emporia,
Oregon State, Emporia State and Kansas. He coached track and football at Emporia
State and Kansas.
Larry Means (left) came to participate in the
master's
mile event. He was among the air force athletes Bill had coached in California 14
years earlier in preparation for the 1960 Olympic trials.
|