Track History

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John Osler

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Apr 9, 2013, 3:11:57 PM4/9/13

to Robert Baxter, Bill Turnbull, Bill & Carol Hayward, Mickey Turchek, Tom Stamboulian, Kim Spalsbury, Dale Sage, Dan Wytko, Dave Schuring, Dave Scriven, Don Sleeman, Joe Rogers, MIke Woosley, Pete Woods, Tom Roekle, Bob Stark, Terry Zellhart, Charles Spann, Charles Spann, Hudson Ray, Dave Simmons, Wallace Schloerke, Jack Sampson, Don Rassmusen, Ron Womboldt, Don & Dan XC, Calvin Mortensen, Charles Moss, David and Julie McEvers, Jim Moyes, Jim Murray, Michigan T & F

TO ALL TRACK FANS & FRIENDS,

This is truly the one of the GREATEST TRACK FEATS IN MHSAA CLASS A, REGIONAL, and SAGINAW VALLEY CONF. HISTORY. I will summarize the event. The event is the high jump from 1955 to 1957, ancient history. It is about mutt(Alex Barge) and Jeff(Hudson Ray) who dominated this event for three years. The MHSAA STATE RECORD WAS 6' 4" Set by Mead from Bay City in 1950. No Fosbury Flop and only sand or saw dust to land on. It starts with some good coaching in junior high and high school. This starts in 1955 with about 10 Pontiac High athletes clearing 6' and at least 3 junior high athletes clearing 6'. Check this out Pontiac High goes 1,2,3, and 4th places in the SVC meets from 1955 to 1957 and only three athletes are allowed in the Reg..;

1955 - SVC - FIRST = HUDSON RAY(Soph), SECOND = ALEX BARGE(Soph), THIRD PLACE TIE = HENRY WHITE(Soph) and HAYES JONES(Jr) (Olympic HH Bronze and Gold Medal WINNER)( little known fact Hayes was on a 1961 WORLD RECORD 440 RELAY TEAM).

Reg. - FIRST = HUDSON RAY (6' 3/4"), SECOND = ALEX BARGE, and THIRD = HAYES JONES --

MHSAA STATE MEET - FIRST TIE = ALEX BARGE(6' 3 1/2"), FIRST TIE = HUDSON RAY(6' 3 1/2") (They both cleared 6' 4" but they remearsured and sag made the jump 6' 3 1/2".) Little known fact; Alex stood 5' 3 1/2" as a soph and 5' 4 1/2" as a sr.) and THIRD PLACE TIE = HAYES JONES.

(Gene Lawson from Jeff. Jr breaks Alex Barge's record with a jump of 6' 1")

1956 - SVC - FIRST = ALEX BARGE, SECOND = HUDSON RAY, THIRD = JAMES TAYLOR, and FOURTH PLACE TIE = CHARLES BARGE(Soph. & Brother of Alex)

Reg. - FIRST = HUDSON RAY ( 6' 1 3/4"), SECOND = ALEX BARGE, and THIRD = JAMES TAYLOR

MHSAA STATE MEET - FIRST = HUDSON RAY(6' 3 7/8")(CLEARED 6' 4" again but another sag), SECOND = ALEX BARGE(6' 0")

( James Taylor did not place in the HJ but he did place FOURTH in the 120 yard HH)

( Note: Gene Lawson(Soph) moves to Highland Park and Ties for third in the HJ)

1957 - SVC - FIRST = HUDSON RAY (6'), SECOND = FRED BROOKS, THIRD = ALEX BARGE, AND FOURTH = ARZO CARSON

Reg. - FIRST = HUDSON RAY, SECOND PLACE TIE = ALEX BARGE AND FRED BROOKS.

MHSAA STATE MEET - FIRST = HUDSON RAY (6' 1")(NOTE; HUDSON'S best jump of the year was 6' 5 7/8" only Willis Ward in 1931 had jumped higher(6' 6") also Hudson placed THIRD in the LONG JUMP( his best LJ was 21' 8") and ran on the SECOND PLACE 880 RELAY TEAM)

(NOTE: Hudson was also named BASKETBALL'S FIRST TEAM ALL SVC, OAKLAND COUNTY AND STATE( with DAVE DEBUSCHURE GARY BALLMAN, CHET WALKER & ED BURTON( first time the ALL STATE BB TEAM was all CENTERS) )

SECOND = ALEX BARGE(6'), AND THIRD PLACE = FRED BROOKS (5' 11")

( Note: Gene Lawson HP ( former PONTIAC ATHLETE) I did know what he did in 1957 but he was STATE CHAMP in 1958)

Please tell me if you know any Class A or DIV I ind. event that two athletes that took FIRST AND SECOND PLACES for three years in a row and two athletes from the same team took THIRD PLACE two of years and the TEAM took the first four places in their league or conf. for three years in a row.

(note: Flint Northern WON the 1957 SVC MEET and finished SECOND in the MHSAA STATE MEET 1955 TO 1958)

(Note: I forgot to tell you PONTIAC HIGH WON FOUR STRAIGHT MHSAA STATE MEETS from 1955 to 1958, only Saginaw High won FIVE straight MHSAA STATE MEETS from 1945 to 1949. Herb Korf was the coach from 1946 to 1949). Remember, I'm just using Class A and DIV I .