Hall of Fame induction: 2004

John’s running career began at Mt. Pleasant High School in 1957. In 1960, he was Blue Hen Conference and New Castle County Champion (50.9 on cinders) in the 440yd dash, setting records in both. He was runner-up in the 440yd dash to State and Track Hall of fame inductee, Mike Brown of Conrad, in the State Championship and the State Open. He ran the 3rd leg on Mt. Pleasant’s State Record 880yd relay team (1:32.0 on cinders).

John continued his career at the University of Maryland where he won 7 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, 6 in the Mile Relay Indoor & Outdoor from 1962-1964. His individual Championship was recorded in 1963 at the Indoor ACC championships in the 600yd run where he won and set a new record with a time of 1:12.5, which broke the record by two seconds.

In 1963, he was a member of two University of Maryland teams that set Florida Relays records in the Sprint Medley, 3:22.3, and Mile Relay, 3:14.7 (the fastest time in the event in A.C.C. history). John ran the lead off leg for the winning mile relay team that set a record 3:15.7 (cinders) at the District of Columbia A.A.U. Championship.

Hall of Fame induction: 2004

Competing for Dover High School, Ukee was one of the best hurdlers in the State of Delaware, as his times on the Delaware High School All-Time Performance Lists indicate. In 1975, he won the State Division I Championship in the 120yd high hurdles, with a time of :14.1, and the 180yd low hurdles with a time of :19.8. In 1976, he doubled in the hurdle events again in the State Division I Championship, winning the 110m high hurdles in :14.2, and the 300m intermediate hurdles in :38.6.

Also in 1976, in the Southern Region Division I, Ukee set a State Record in the 300m intermediate hurdles with a time of :37.9. He was a member of 1975 mile relay & 1976 4 x 400m relay State Division I Championship teams.

On the Delaware H.S. All Time Performance Lists, Ukee is 6th in the 110m high hurdles with a converted time of :14.20 and 3rd in the 300m intermediate hurdles with a converted time of :37.82.

Hall of Fame induction: 2003

Robert was a truly outstanding runner at Delaware State. His long sprinting ability gave the Hornets many outstanding performances in the late 70’s while leading them to numerous titles. He was a two-time NAIA 600yd Champion, winning titles in 1976 and 1979. Robert anchored his mile relay to the Penn Relays college division championship in 1979. His sub 46 second speed made Delaware State the favorite in many relay competitions. He participated in the 1980 Olympic Trials.

Robert was a 1972 graduate of Bridgeton Senior High School, located in Bridgeton, NJ where he also lettered in Track and Field.

Hall of Fame induction: 2003

Wade went to the University of Delaware as a shot and discus thrower. He is still ranked by the University as second all-time in discus and in the top ten in the shot put, both indoors and outdoors.

However, he found a new event while competing at Delaware, the hammer and 35# indoor weight throw.

He became a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier, securing All-American honors in the hammer in 1993.

In the 1993 IC4A competitions, he placed second in the weight throw, second in the discus, and seventh in the hammer. He twice won the national 56# weight throw championships. Wade also won six conference championships and holds the school records in the weight throw, 67’ 9¾”, and the hammer, 207’8″, by significant amounts.

Hall of Fame induction: 2003

Bill, a Mt. Pleasant graduate, became the State’s premier 180yd Low Hurdler in 1960. That year he set the State Record of 19.9 seconds elevating the event to a new level. Bill’s :19.9, run on a cinder track, was an achievement only he attained until all-weather tracks had been in use for many years. Bill was undefeated in Dual Meets in 1960. That year he set meet or State Records in every major meet including the Conference (1959 and 1960), County, State and State Open meets.

Bill’s County Meet record stood for twelve years and his State Record held up for thirteen years. Bill’s State Record of :19.9 is fifth on the all-time list. Bill also ran sprints, helping his 880yd relay team set a State Record of 1:32.0.

William H. (Bill) Francisco was inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2003. He has served as a Governor on the Board of Governors since 2007. Bill ran Track for Coach Bill Crowthers at Mt. Pleasant High School, for Coach Jim Kehoe at Maryland and Coach Jim Flynn at Delaware. A serious leg injury ended his competitive collegiate running career. In 1995, Bill started coaching older (over 40) runners to run long distances (5K through Marathons). Bill also coaches High School Track in Nevada. He is currently Co-Head Coach of the Desert Oasis High School Track and Field Team, Las Vegas, NV.