Oh, So Long Ago

Our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer somehow found 1977 PIAA results and sent me a pic.  For the younger set out there, this was when we still measured things in yards, wore little skimpy shorts, had long hair, and ran on track surfaces you would be triggered by!  (Just joking...)

The specific events in the pic were selected as they include three future Freshman on the Penn State teams.  George Severine 880Y (1:55 880HS to 800U!) and Marc Dunmire Mile (RIP) join me in the medalists in the distance events listed.

As it turns out, I was 3 for 3 in my District and State races, as I won both the Mile and 2-Mile at Districts and the 2-Mile at States.  (The disqualification for tripping Inside Track-Harrisburg Manager Henry Klugh in the Mile at Districts sealed my 2-Mile effort at States. A true blessing in disguise!)  It took a 58 second last lap to erase a 60 yard deficit to win. Maybe our Grand Exalted IT Czar can verify those facts for those who realize that accuracy isn't my best feature! And I never even qualified for Districts in my first three years!

Reggie Dunlop Might Have Been Our Coach This Day

 Early in the 1979 Cross Country Season an intrepid cast of characters set out in a van for the home of the Charlestown Chiefs.  Instead of meeting the Hanson Brothers on the ice, we met a bunch of other runners for the Johnstown 10K.

But we did use the Cambria County War Arena as our dressing room.  That's the scene of much of the filming for what Paul Newman called his favorite movie, Slap Shot.  We actually dressed in the stands right where goalie Denis Lemieux met player/coach Reggie Dunlop after asking Manager Joe McGrath "Who Own the Chiefs?"    Owwwwwns...




Several of us set PRs for the 10K, and everyone knows Johnstown has hills!

Penn State Runners:

  5.  Gary Black                 29:58
  7.  David Baskwill           30:37
  8.  Brad Althouse            30:40
11.  Mark Hawkins            31:01
12.  Marc Dunmire            31:14
14.  Don Ziter                     31:33
15.  Doug Kent                   31:54
18.  Rich Prann                  32:17
19.  Ray Krombel               32:20
23.  Mark Fordney             32:50
26.  Mike Cook                   33:07
42.  Roger "Gunny" Roll   34:53

I further pissed everyone off after the race by winning a pair of running shoes randomly from a local running store, delaying the return to State College!  They ended up giving me an injury...

"We go to Florida and I get the money." 

-Denis Lemieaux.

    

Painful Memories!

Greg Fredericks sent me this listing from the days of yore.  I have talked about it several times before but didn't have the entire listing before.  Remember, this was an "extra" race/training run including many milers.  Nothing like this ever happens today. There are numerous things to note:

• I "coached" the 5th, 6th and 7th runners to their first ever run over 15 miles.  I coached them so well that they all beat me when I hit the wall at 20 miles. I made them start slowly and pick it up at each 5 mile mark.  We were in third place behind Alan Sharsu when I dropped like a rock.  Larry Mangan, Mike Wyatt and Tom Rapp all had incredible range from 800M to marathon.
• I managed to stagger home ahead of Liz Berry, hearing the cheers behind me as she set the team record.
• This is the only race where I ever defeated Gary Black.
• Seeing Marc Dunmire defeat Coach Groves with curses in the air was great! (RIP Marc.)
• Psychology Prof Hersh Leibowitz ran 3:25:01 at age 53! (RIP Hersh.)
• The weather is listed as 50 degrees with no wind.  That is a lie.  There was snow on the roads and we all had windburn!
• Greg Fredericks did not run! Just for the record...
• The high number of non-finishers may be due to the 800M guys running only 15 miles???
• The combo of Jim Clelland and Kelly O'Brien gave Alan Scharsu a run for his money!
• Bruce Baden was an animal!

Teammates Are Forever

I have had a couple of submissions about some teammates of mine, from teammates of mine, that I wish to pass along.

First up, roommate Doug "Do Right" Kent dug up his copy of the 1980 Penn Relays Program including this photo of the 1979 Marathon winner.  I know Tim Backenstose frequently checks in.  He'll be pleased to see this again.  As was I!

And Larry Mangan sent this announcement along from a Houston friend of Marc Dunmire.  Marc was a teammate of both of us and a long time PSU Football seat-mate of Larry's.  Let's help Marc get his memorial paving stone!

Dear Friends and Family of Marc Dunmire,

Marc had and
always will have a special place in each of our lives.

A day doesn't go by
without thinking of Marc. Many times I find myself picking 
up the phone to tell him about an upcoming sporting event,
to play golf or just to tell him about a
comic situation that only Marc's humor would understand.

Marc influenced our
lives in so many ways.  I wanted to create some way to 
memorialize his memory for all of us.  Marc spent a lot 
of time at running at Memorial Park. The
running center is a brand new facility at Memorial Park 
which offers pavers for individuals names. These pavers 
are for purchase in two sizes,
12" x 24" of 24" x 24".

If you are interested in participating in a paver for
Marc please email or call me for more information or 
questions. Also please forward this to friends, co-workers, 
or others not included in this email. The cost of the 12"x24" 
paver is $2500, the "24 x 24" is %5000. 

Mike
Krakower
mhhk@sbcgloabl.net

With a Heavy Heart...

MARC A. DUNMIRE
1958-2015
MARC A. DUNMIRE, age 56, of Sugar Land, Texas, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, Marc was the son of Arthur and Virginia Dunmire, who preceded him in death in 1977 and 2007, respectively. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1977. That same year, he set the high school record for the mile and earned a silver medal at the Pennsylvania High School State Track and Field championship in the mile. Marc attended The Pennsylvania State University, graduating with a degree in Finance in 1981. While at Penn State, Marc continued his running career as a member of the track and cross country teams under Coach Harry Groves. After graduation, Marc moved to Houston where he began his career in the banking industry. He had a successful career, starting as a credit analyst at Allied Bank and most recently as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate at Amegy Bank of Texas. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Sweetwater Country Club. Marc was a generous and willing mentor, fierce competitor at work and play, and a devoted father and loving husband. He shared his passion for running with his daughter, Kelsey, and proudly served as Team Dad for The St. Agnes Academy girls' track and cross country teams.
Marc is survived by his wife, Joann, and daughter, Kelsey, both of Sugar Land, TX; step-mother, Jane Dunmire of Richmond, VA; his three sisters, Paige Firment of Bolton,MA, Carrie McMullen and her husband Brian of Bethel Park, PA, and Patricia Dunmire and her husband Joel Woller, of Pittsburgh, PA; two nieces, Sara Firment of Watertown, MA, and Emily Firment of Somerville, MA; and his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lee of Houston, TX, and Shirley Burch of San Diego, CA.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, Texas 77459.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marc's memory may be made to The Harry Groves Track/Cross Country Scholarship, The Pennsylvania State University, 149 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park PA 16802, Attn: Kirk Diehl, memo: "In memory of Marc Dunmire/Harry Groves."

MARC A. DUNMIRE
1958-2015
MARC A. DUNMIRE, age 56, of Sugar Land, Texas, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, Marc was the son of Arthur and Virginia Dunmire, who preceded him in death in 1977 and 2007, respectively. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1977. That same year, he set the high school record for the mile and earned a silver medal at the Pennsylvania High School State Track and Field championship in the mile. Marc attended The Pennsylvania State University, graduating with a degree in Finance in 1981. While at Penn State, Marc continued his running career as a member of the track and cross country teams under Coach Harry Groves. After graduation, Marc moved to Houston where he began his career in the banking industry. He had a successful career, starting as a credit analyst at Allied Bank and most recently as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate at Amegy Bank of Texas. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Sweetwater Country Club. Marc was a generous and willing mentor, fierce competitor at work and play, and a devoted father and loving husband. He shared his passion for running with his daughter, Kelsey, and proudly served as Team Dad for The St. Agnes Academy girls' track and cross country teams.
Marc is survived by his wife, Joann, and daughter, Kelsey, both of Sugar Land, TX; step-mother, Jane Dunmire of Richmond, VA; his three sisters, Paige Firment of Bolton,MA, Carrie McMullen and her husband Brian of Bethel Park, PA, and Patricia Dunmire and her husband Joel Woller, of Pittsburgh, PA; two nieces, Sara Firment of Watertown, MA, and Emily Firment of Somerville, MA; and his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lee of Houston, TX, and Shirley Burch of San Diego, CA.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, Texas 77459.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marc's memory may be made to The Harry Groves Track/Cross Country Scholarship, The Pennsylvania State University, 149 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park PA 16802, Attn: Kirk Diehl, memo: "In memory of Marc Dunmire/Harry Groves."

Published in Houston Chronicle on May 31, 2015 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=174973085#sthash.WapkJZDO.dpuf

Marc Dunmire

1958 - 2015 | Obituary |  Condolences |  Gallery

MARC A. DUNMIRE
1958-2015
MARC A. DUNMIRE, age 56, of Sugar Land, Texas, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, Marc was the son of Arthur and Virginia Dunmire, who preceded him in death in 1977 and 2007, respectively. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1977. That same year, he set the high school record for the mile and earned a silver medal at the Pennsylvania High School State Track and Field championship in the mile. Marc attended The Pennsylvania State University, graduating with a degree in Finance in 1981. While at Penn State, Marc continued his running career as a member of the track and cross country teams under Coach Harry Groves. After graduation, Marc moved to Houston where he began his career in the banking industry. He had a successful career, starting as a credit analyst at Allied Bank and most recently as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate at Amegy Bank of Texas. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Sweetwater Country Club. Marc was a generous and willing mentor, fierce competitor at work and play, and a devoted father and loving husband. He shared his passion for running with his daughter, Kelsey, and proudly served as Team Dad for The St. Agnes Academy girls' track and cross country teams.
Marc is survived by his wife, Joann, and daughter, Kelsey, both of Sugar Land, TX; step-mother, Jane Dunmire of Richmond, VA; his three sisters, Paige Firment of Bolton,MA, Carrie McMullen and her husband Brian of Bethel Park, PA, and Patricia Dunmire and her husband Joel Woller, of Pittsburgh, PA; two nieces, Sara Firment of Watertown, MA, and Emily Firment of Somerville, MA; and his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lee of Houston, TX, and Shirley Burch of San Diego, CA.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, Texas 77459.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marc's memory may be made to The Harry Groves Track/Cross Country Scholarship, The Pennsylvania State University, 149 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park PA 16802, Attn: Kirk Diehl, memo: "In memory of Marc Dunmire/Harry Groves."

Published in Houston Chronicle on May 31, 2015

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=174973085#sthash.WapkJZDO.dpuf

Marc Dunmire

1958 - 2015 | Obituary |  Condolences |  Gallery

MARC A. DUNMIRE
1958-2015
MARC A. DUNMIRE, age 56, of Sugar Land, Texas, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, Marc was the son of Arthur and Virginia Dunmire, who preceded him in death in 1977 and 2007, respectively. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1977. That same year, he set the high school record for the mile and earned a silver medal at the Pennsylvania High School State Track and Field championship in the mile. Marc attended The Pennsylvania State University, graduating with a degree in Finance in 1981. While at Penn State, Marc continued his running career as a member of the track and cross country teams under Coach Harry Groves. After graduation, Marc moved to Houston where he began his career in the banking industry. He had a successful career, starting as a credit analyst at Allied Bank and most recently as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate at Amegy Bank of Texas. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of Sweetwater Country Club. Marc was a generous and willing mentor, fierce competitor at work and play, and a devoted father and loving husband. He shared his passion for running with his daughter, Kelsey, and proudly served as Team Dad for The St. Agnes Academy girls' track and cross country teams.
Marc is survived by his wife, Joann, and daughter, Kelsey, both of Sugar Land, TX; step-mother, Jane Dunmire of Richmond, VA; his three sisters, Paige Firment of Bolton,MA, Carrie McMullen and her husband Brian of Bethel Park, PA, and Patricia Dunmire and her husband Joel Woller, of Pittsburgh, PA; two nieces, Sara Firment of Watertown, MA, and Emily Firment of Somerville, MA; and his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lee of Houston, TX, and Shirley Burch of San Diego, CA.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, Texas 77459.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marc's memory may be made to The Harry Groves Track/Cross Country Scholarship, The Pennsylvania State University, 149 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park PA 16802, Attn: Kirk Diehl, memo: "In memory of Marc Dunmire/Harry Groves."

Published in Houston Chronicle on May 31, 2015

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=174973085#sthash.WapkJZDO.dpuf

Student-Athlete Still Means Something To Me

Most of us know at least the rudiments of John Urschel's tenure at Penn State.  But it's worth dwelling on it a little more than most feel good stories. We may not see this story repeated ever again.

When I first matriculated at PSU, I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to do after college. But I really wanted to improve my running too.  It was something that I only started to excel at (notice I didn't say excel!) in my Senior Year of High School.  That's why I was never on any Division I radar screens, let alone Coach Groves' thought processes.  He already had signed up the PA and Ohio State champions in the Mile.  He also was getting the PA mile runner-up and one of the better 880 yard specialists from PA in just one year.  (That's Larry Mangan, Tom Rapp, Mark Dunmire and George Severine for those keeping track!)* So when I asked (begged?) to be allowed to walk on, I was super delighted to get the chance.  I was always going to PSU, even though I did visit several Division III schools as a courtesy. Every one in my extended family and my wife's family have PSU degrees.  I wasn't going to buck the trend.

But I found that running at a top level (which I almost accomplished my Freshman year) AND getting good grades was harder than it looked.  My first term (yeah youngsters, there were 3 of them every year!) with Calculus, English and Speech humbled me beyond belief. Thank Goodness for Science, is all I can say.  Being a Student-Athlete isn't a jog through the Park.

Another somewhat unheralded athlete came to PSU being called a 2-Star (out of 5) Recruit in recent years.  The fact that he has a bachelor degree, one Masters degree and another Masters degree almost completed while being one of the best offensive lineman in the nation is rather impressive.  When you add that the degrees are in Mathematics, it kind of blows your mind. And he never even got a single "B".  Student-Athlete at its best by definition. Next stop the Wunderlic!  (He'll do better than Vinny Testeverde did, I'm pretty sure.)

I know what Mathematics is all about; my brother has a Masters degree in Computer Science and is near completion of another in Mathematics, in addition to his PSU bachelor degree in Accounting and his PSU MBA degree. I only managed a "C" in college calculus.  John has my utmost respect for what he has accomplished in his 5 years at PSU.  The world is a better place because of it.

So when I hear about college athletes being "paid", I turn off the sound and shake my head.  I'm not saying I'm for it or against it.  I'm just saying that  I will miss "amateur athletics" once it is gone.  And it will be, if it isn't already.  (I'm an idiot, but not blind!)

John Urschel Article on ESPN for the Campbell Trophy

* Please correct any of that for me if I'm wrong.

Pennsylvania and Ohio Distance Champions in the 70's Chose Penn State

Larry Mangan recently pointed out how nearly all the Pennsylvania distance champions in our day gravitated to Penn State. We are doing our best to make that happen all over again.  Title IX makes that difficult on the mens side.  The list is rather impressive.  Let's see if I can get some of them:

Pennsylvania:
1.  Dave Felice, mile 1976
2.  Ray Krombel, 2-mile 1976
3.  Larry Mangan, mile  1977
4.   Marc Dunmire, mile 1977
5.  George Severine, 880 1977
6.  David Baskwill, 2-mile 1977
7.  Gary Black, mile 1978

I'm forgetting others!  Write a comment below to update the list.

And lets not forget Ohio, the state that's "high in the middle and round on both ends" (from Tom Rapp himself).   The Ohio State Mile Champions at PSU in my day are:

1.  Tom Rapp 1977
2.  Alan Scharsu  1978 (in the photo)
3.  John Zishka  1979
4.  Clark Haley  1981

All of this was off the top-of-my-head, which is notably deficient.  Please send me additions and corrections in the comment section!

Ah, the updates are rolling in, just as I had hoped. 

1.  Mike Cook, 1600 1979.

2.  Mark Overheim, 1600 1981

3. Jay Novak, 3200 1986

4. Dan Mazzocco, 3200  2002

5.  Dave Greene 800, 1979

6.  Doug Walter, 800 1986

7.  Mary Rawe, mile 1977 or 1978?
8.  Robert Snyder, mile 1974, 1975
9.  Kathy Byrnes, 880, 1977