Page 10 THE NORTON TELEGRAM Friday, October 16, 2009 Phillipsburg runner receives Kansas Hall of Fame honor after 40 years By DICK BOYD seven races. man who had an important role in [email protected] Following those trips, John raising us up to be the best men John Mason, 63, Phillipsburg, was hospitalized with a severe we could be. paid his dues as one of the elite digestive tract infection, which “I can’t imagine my track days mile and 1500 meter runners in the kept him from competing in the without Alex Francis’ inspiring world in the 1960s. During im- Mexico Olympics. leadership. He really was like a pressive ceremonies on Sunday, In February, 1969, John toured second father to me for so many Oct. 4, he received the reward he again with the USA National decades. so richly deserved when he was Team and won all six races he ran “I grew up running on those officially inducted into the Kansas in six weeks. barren plains in western Kansas, Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita as His collegiate career had come where we made up for the lack a member of the Class of 2009. to a close and John moved to of hills in training with a great It is so fitting that he has re- Southern California where he abundance of wind, which always ceived this honor after a career joined the prestigious Pacific seemed to be blowing directly in in which he not only ran against Coast Club to continue national our faces and with the extremes and defeated the best runners in and international competition. of weather that either taught an America but represented the Unit- For the next two years, he raced athlete endurance or killed him. ed States in worldwide competi- all over the world. There were days that I thought it tion where he returned unbeaten He ran a long string of four was going to kill me! after showing his backside to the minutes flat miles before break- “Kansas has bred lots of great world’s best, including Olympic ing the four minute mile barrier milers and I idolized all of them champions. with a time of 3:58.4 in Berkeley, and desperately wanted to become John Mason was not born a Calif., in May, 1970. After that, it one of them. I still have an auto- world champion runner but devel- became routine to see him turn in graph from Glen Cunningham Pictured in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum looking at the portrait and biographi- oped into one with long hours of sub-four minute mile times with that I got from him when I was a cal information on new inductee John Mason are from left, John’s wife Juanita, John and his hard work and a quiet determina- a best ever of 3:57.9 on April 17, youth and I have treasured it ever nephew, Brad Mason. tion to be the best he could be. It 1971. In l971, at the Los Angeles since. What a great inspirational – Telegram photo by Dick Boyd wasn’t easy as he had many, many Times Indoor Meet, John ran the life story he had for a Kansas boy stumbling blocks but used his fastest indoor mile that had been to grow up on! recorded in nine years when he “Later, I was a fan of Wes San- positive mental toughness to turn legendary major college basket- baseball pitcher, posthumously; Ted Hayes is president and tied Jim Beatty’s indoor record tee and Archie San Romani, two them into stepping stones. ball coach; Ken Swenson, Clay Paul Endacott, Lawrence, bas- CEO of the Kansas Sports Hall of 3:58.9 which had been a world more great Kansas runners who John suffered from polio in the Center, track star for Kansas State ketball star for Kansas University, of Fame. Duane Muck, Osborne, record. lived up to this state’s tradition of fifth grade, broke a toe so could University; Gwinn Henry, foot- posthumously. is chairman of the Hall of Fame John had hopes of making the greatness. In high school, through not run his freshman year at Phil- ball star for Southwestern College Master of ceremonies for the Board of Directors. 1972 U.S. Olympic team but college, and then for years on lipsburg High School, almost died and college coach, posthumously; Induction Ceremony was Gary Reporter’s note: knee problems finally forced his the world stage, I found myself from drinking polluted water after Orlis Cox, Ottawa, longtime high Bender, well known sports broad- This sportswriter had the privi- retirement. running against the great Kansas running during his freshman year school coach, posthumously; caster who is currently the voice lege of covering John Mason for He had a great career that took legend Jim Ryun. at Fort Hays State University and Ken Roberts, Strong City, world of the Phoenix Suns professional the Phillips County Review in the him all over the world, represent- “As a youth, when I looked up missed the Olympics due to an bull-riding rodeo champion, basketball team. Gary is a 2008 1960s when he was running for ing the United States on eight to these great Kansas runners, I illness. posthumously; Jesse Barnes, inductee in the Kansas Sports Phillipsburg High School. different U.S.A. National Track was inspired. There was nothing His original inspiration came Circleville, star professional Hall of Fame. from his father, Paul, who made Teams . He traveled overseas about me that was anything but the long trip from Phillipsburg extensively, competing in Europe, just average. I say to the young to the hospital in Lincoln, Neb. the Soviet Union, Asia, Latin people of this state that you can to visit his son who was ill with America, Canada and the Carib- do great things, even if you come polio. bean. He also ran in track meets from a tiny school in a tiny town His father brought him two gifts in every major city in the United and are just average in every way. that he says changed his life. One States. Learn everything you can about was Paul’s high school regional It’s possible that cross country what you want to do. Get good championship medal for the mile was his best sport as he won the advice from good coaches. Follow in 1935 and the other was a tiny United States National Champi- it. Work hard! It’s all within your trophy that his dad had made es- onship and set the course record in reach. On the track, a Kansan can pecially for him, engraved with 1968 at Van Cortland Park, New stand equal to anyone anywhere “Son -- First in Any Event”. York, a record that stood for an on earth with hard work and de- John says these two things amazing 20 years! termination. inspired him to get well fast and Acceptance speech “Now, I have something in become interested in track and “I am so humbled and honored common with those great Kansas field. And very interested he to be named to the Kansas Sports milers that I idolized. We’re now became! Hall of Fame,” John told the large all on the same Kansas team in the After winning the mile and half crowd during his acceptance Kansas Sports Hall of Fame along mile in the Kansas State High speech. “You have reconnected with all of the other great Kansas School Track Meet both his junior my life today with my youth and Sports Champions. I’m thrilled! and senior years, which included a you make me feel like a young “My running career took me all state record in the half mile, many man again! That’s a great feeling over the world but I came home colleges approached him about at this age! Honors won in our to the best place on earth, Phil- running track for them. youth are wonderful but being lipsburg, Kansas. I’m always very He chose to stay close to home recognized now is just fantastic! proud to be called a Kansan! and run for Fort Hays State Uni- Thank you! “You’ve given me a very great versity, where coach Alex Francis “I am just as excited as a youth moment in a wonderful life. Thank was already a legend in track and to be here with all of these great you all for honoring me so kind- field and is also a member of the athletes and coaches. All the rest ly!” Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. of the inductees are very worthy Other members of the Kansas An All-American 14 times in of this award and I extend my Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2009 track and cross country while at congratulations to all of them! who were honored during the Fort Hays, John ran the sub-four “I have so many people to thank Induction Ceremony are: Steve minute mile or equivalent in 1500 because so many helped me come Henson, McPherson, basketball meters on numerous occasions. to this moment. Thanks to my star for Kansas State University; He had a streak of 21 straight parents. They taught me early Ted Owens, Tulsa, basketball cross country victories while at the basics of a ‘can do’ spirit and coach for Kansas University; Don Fort Hays, winning the Missouri hard work.” Calhoun, Wichita, football star for Valley AAU Cross Country Meet, His father Paul is no longer Kansas State University and pro the NAIA National Meet and the living and mother Millie was un- football; Janell Carson, Fredonia, John Mason, a world class miler in his prime, always put every ounce of strength and speed CIC League Championships.