JUNIATA COLLEGE
TRACK  & CROSS COUNTRY REUNIONS   home

  14th annual Juniata College
Track and Cross Country Runners Reunion
Weekend of Friday April 1st thru Sunday April 3rd, 2011
 See who's attending and view messages
Special guest: JC Hall of Famer Earl Samuel
 Please email me if you are going to attend:  larry@hoovercs.com

     The format will remain consistent with former years:  home base will be the Huntingdon Motor Inn.  We will meet there about 9:00 or 10:00 Friday night, and try to get into Kelley's Corner for a couple of beverages before they close down.  Then, we may continue the 'getting reacquainted'  meeting in one of the motel rooms (bring musical instruments if  you got 'em).   Since Grubbs Diner has gone to another small town somewhere, we will use Tops Diner as our Saturday morning breakfast place. 

    There will be a home track meet at Juniata this year as our anchor event .  It will run from 10:30 to 5:30.  For those of us who are willing and able, we will venture forth for an easy jog along olde-tyme running trails in the late afternoon.   No one should feel obligated to make this run, however, so don't avoid the reunion to skip out on running. 

    Saturday evening will be the main event which is hosted by Dr./Coach Don Mitchell  and Becky Mitchell at their home, suitably located at the top of SureKill Hill, actually located on the path of the old XC course!  On Sunday, some of us will meet for a final breakfast at Tops before we head for home. 

     Here's the Juniata Calendar of events web site:  http://services.juniata.edu/activities/calendar/

      For those who are coming from far away via air, you can fly into Philadelphia airport on Friday, and we of the local Philly contingency can pick you up and drive you to Huntingdon.   Email me if you are considering this option. 

      Remember, all JC former runners are welcome, regardless of ability or year of participation.  We also get members of the current track/XC team at some events.

       **Try and make reservations early at the HMI.   I reserved four adjoining non-smoking rooms under the name "Juniata Track/Cross County Reunion", or use my name to obtain one of these.  814-643-1183.  The double rooms last year were $67.58 per night tax included.

Earl Samuel '65 Will be our featured newcomer for the reunion this year.  A little about Earl:

Earl Samuel '65
Cross Country, Track and Field

A four-year letter winner in both sports, he retired the record for Juniata's original 4.3 mile cross country course. In cross country dual meets, he lost only twice to runners from other schools. The #1 runner for Juniata throughout his career, he finished in the top 10 at the Middle Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championships four times, including a runner-up showing as a senior. He was a senior captain in cross country and a two-year captain in track and field, where he was the team's high scorer in 1962, 1964 and 1965. He won the gold medal for the two-mile run at the 1964 Middle Atlantic Conference Track and Field Championships, breaking the MAC record at that time. He placed second in the MAC two-mile in 1962, third in 1963 and second in 1965. As a senior, he became the first Juniatian to win three athletics awards in the same year after being named MVP in both cross country and track and field, and receiving the prestigious Stanford Mickle Award.


Attending so far (03/15/11):

Larry Hoover, Grant Brewin, Jack and Connor  McCullough, Don and Becky Mitchell, Eric Hoover, Brian Maurer, Bill and Cindy DeMuth, Bill Kibler, Mike Slough, Dana Cope '81, Earl Samuel '65, Doug and Luann (Steiner) Crosby, Sam Williams '10.  Maybes:  George Peterson and Bill Shuler. 
Please email me if you are going to attend:  larry@hoovercs.com


Message Board:

I just received word from JC that you folks are having a runners reunion.
I represent the "over the hill gang" I reckon.
I was in the last class from the great undefeated teams of the late 50's and early 60's for JC Cross Country.
Perhaps I can push to get another couple of our guys to also attend...will see.
We (the old guys) had our last reunion in 2002, and in fact, met some other runners also having a reunion at that point also. We had a real nice attendance, and many guys from across the country showed up for this great time. We met with Coach Mitchell, and we walked the course together as a group...the old, original course that is to say.
 
I ran from '61 and graduated in '65, made the Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, followed by Bob Berthold "64, Don Lehman (the first great XC Runner)...'59, and Rob Gardner (track...'64 also).
 
I desire to attend. I cannot do much...I was stricken with terminal cancer back in June of last year, and am rather weak, but should feel well enough to attend, along with my wife Pam, class of '66. I will not be able to work the track meet at all, nor run or walk the course (which frankly will KILL my spirit..since I loved to run and have stayed active these many years ). The last great run I had was at age 42...broke 10:00 in the 3200...
 
Hope to see you that weekend and will enjoy meeting the other guys as well.
 
My best,
 
Earl Samuel
Class of 1965
 
 
Larry,
Got reservations at HMI, see you there.
Mike Slough
 
Thanks for your courtesy and new friendship.
I have contacted several of the old gang....not sure the schedule works for them...probably not enough advance notice, but...we shall see.
Want to hear the funny of all funnys from our 2002 reunion?
We are the over the hill gang at that point (2002). Most of the guys that came were from the 50's runners. So....
there was another class, holding their 10th reunion, and there were a few runners coming to that reunion...so when they saw the write up in the Juniata Newspaper on the old runners holding our first reunion, and that we were going to "walk" the original 5 mile course, they contacted my brother Dave, class of 1961...he and I headed up the reunion.
So...they send us a message challenging us to race them on the course. They would give us a lead, like 3 minute lead because we are older, and then we would see which group won the race by running the old course.  The news paper kids picked up on this and thought it was a cute idea. So they announced the challenge was on!
My brother is witty, Doctorate and was a professor at West Va Univ. So...he says our side " gets to set the race rules."
Their side agrees.
Our rules are this...we race to the mail box and see who can get their social security check out first.
Their leader replies "But we don't get social security?".
To which my brother replies "Guess you lose then !"
Both sides get a big laugh, and they get the picture and we walk the course together in fun thereafter...had a great time doing so...Mitchell helped us find the old course, and went with us some of the distance. Great Time.
Will advise more later.
Why the Huntington Motor Inn...nice place?  I stayed at the Comfort Inn...the new place and it was nice.
But I do not care...just asking.
What do you guys do on Friday? Anything... or just meet and shoot the breeze?
Nice to hear from you...
Earl Samuel '65
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: Reunion Juniata XC/Track

 
Dear Earl,

Yes, we all know who you are; you are one of the legends of Juniata running and you are ranked among the other distance  greats:  Bob Berthold, Don Lehman, Rick Beard, Denny Weidler, Jack McCullough, Chris Schaffer, and Matt Bailey. 

I hope you can attend out get together, we would be honored to swap storied with you, and others from your era if you can get them to come. 

I'm greatly sorry to hear about your illness, but all the more reason to come and see us this year.  Make reservations at the Huntingdon Motor Inn and I will stay in touch to make sure you join us for all of our activities, which are casual and very impromptu except for the Saturday night dinner which is always scheduled for about 7 or 7:30. 

Great hearing from you, Earl, and I hope to see you in a couple of weeks.  Tell your other running buddies.

Larry Hoover '74
 
 

Larry,
I am planning to be there on Saturday afternoon at some point.  I have a class in Harrisburg in the AM.
Dana Cope ‘81

     I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it. My son is getting married in Iowa on the 9th and I’ll be busy at home and work getting things in order so I can head out mid-week for the festivities.
     I hope you guys have a great time. Hope you have good weather for the track meet. I think you, Grant and some others who still run should jump in one of the races. You guys could form a relay team that runs against JC’s current runners in one of the races 800 meters or more. Their runners each run the full race as part of the meet, but you guys join in. Split it up 4 ways and run as a relay. If you do, capture it on video!
Scott Williams

Unable to attend this year.
Hope to connect with more of the women's members and get us there one year.
Thanks for allowing us to be part of the group.
 
Mary Yankaskas '82
Larry  Cannot be there.  Have fun.  Thanks  Zim

Larry,
     Cindy and I wil be coming on Friday evening after work.  See you then.
                                                                    Bill DeMuth

Larry,

I'll be attending. If you guys are going to work the meet, count me in.  Topps for breakfast then the meet?  

Mike

Je viendrais cette année.

 Je veux vous voir, mon ami.

 Brian

 'm in f'sho, youngblood.
Eric Hoover

This is really great, Larry. I've wanted to meet Earl for a long time and hear how about things were before us. It'll be great for sure.

Jack

I plan to come, and I have already told Cutright I can volunteer to help.
Bill Kibler

Can't make it. Thanks.
Ken VanAntwerp
 

Larry,

 Once again thank you for the invitation…and again I must respectfully…miss this wonderful event.  I am still coaching (at CB West, now) and we have a meet that weekend.

 Please give my best wishes to all.

 Paul wilson

Larry,  Thanks for the invite,but I won't be able to attend.   Andy Zimmerman '86

Larry,

     I had gotten back to you earlier; I cannot be there because of a church event happening that weekend.  It sounds as if will be another great occasion.    Den  (ny Wideler)

I'll be attending.  I won't be there until Saturday afternoon.
Dana Cope '81

Hello Larry & Dana!

 George Peterson & I are trying to make it out, but not committed yet due to other obligations that we are both working around. If we do come, it will be Friday night, then leaving early Sunday.  I’ll let you know later this week.

 I know I would love to work the “flag” on the homestretch!---but 10 to 5 is torture (lunch and keg included?)

 Take care
 Bill Shuler

 

Larry (Wacky)
 
I send my regrets.........The timing always seems to be bad. It must be me. One of these years............
 
It's great to see that they're actually holding a track meet on that new surface. Isn't that what it's for?
 
Please give my regards to Dr. Mitchell. And thanks to you for making the effort to get us together.
 
Regards,

Joker

 

Larry,
LuAnn and I will be at reunion April 1,2. Thanks again for organizing.
Doug
 
P.S. Phone # for HMI should be 814-643-1133 unless you have a special direct line. I wasn't getting a connection.

 

Sam Williams
Sam WilliamsMarch 21, 2011 at 10:45am
Subject: Alumni Weekend
Hey, Mr. Hoover! I just wanted to let you know that I'll be around for the alumni weekend but will be staying with the current runners.

Sam

 


		
Caitlin Stormont wrote:
"Thanks for the invite, Larry! :)  I'm so sad I won't be able to make it! 
There are lots of factors working against my attendance.....I won't have transportation to Juniata 
and my parents have already rescheduled some things to be able to visit me in D.C. that weekend.  
I always have so much fun at the annual XC reunion at the Mitchell's, please do invite me again next year!!! 
(And tell everyone I say hello!)"