Hall of Fame induction: 1994

Harmer was probably the first noted Delaware track and field athlete, after winning the Penn Relays 440 low hurdles in 1922. Fred died in 1959 and left an athletic legacy at the University of Delaware as a football, basketball and baseball star. But it was in track that he made his greatest mark when in 1922 he established school records of 51.0 for 440 yards and 2:02.0 at 880 yards. Both records stood for 30 years. Fred was remembered years later by an old News-Journal editor as having placed second in a five mile cross country race that finished between the halves of a football game. Then he put on a uniform and played halfback the rest of the game.

Fred was an active AAU official for many years, and served as a timer at the Penn Relays from 1947 through 1958.

Hall of Fame induction: 1994

Henry had a celebrated career as a sprinter and as a high school coach. Spencer’s high school record peaked in 1962 when he anchored Howard High School to the only Championship of America win at the Penn Relays ever by a Delaware high school. Spencer won four (two individual) sprint titles in the Delaware State High School Championships and anchored three relay teams to state records, all of which lasted for 25 years or so.

Later Henry competed for Morgan State and ran on the relay team which won the 1964 Penn Relays Championship of America in the 4 x 200 relay. In 1963 Morgan’s sprint medley relay won the National AAU title, again with Spencer sparking the team. In 1965 Spencer won the Mid-Atlantic 200 meter title and was runner-up in the IC4A 200 meter dash.

As a high school coach Henry’s Wilmington High School team won three City and New Castle County Championships, two state titles, and five Conference Championships. Later Dickinson High School won two State Championships along with two County and eight Conference titles while Henry coached there.

Spencer developed Vando Davis and Eric Hamilton who still hold state high school records. Spencer is a member of Morgan State’s Track and Field Hall of Fame. Henry currently serves as chairman of DSSAA Track and Field Committee.

Hall of Fame induction: 1994

Regarded as state’s all-time high school track and field coach, he retired from the Howard High School position after the 1961 season. In his last seven years, Howard won the Delaware Interscholastic (state meet) 7 times, the Group 1 title in the Peninsula Relays 7 times, New Castle County Championships 6 times, Group 2 in the Bridgeton Relays 5 times, City championships 3 times and a class relay at the Penn Relays 6 times. In the Penn Relays High School Championships of America races, Howard placed 4 times with 2 thirds and 2 fifths.

Johnson started cross-country at Howard in 1956 and won the state meet 4 times, city meet 2 times and 33 straight inter-school meets. He coached for 14 years (since 1948), retired at age 39 because of the long hours involved for 9 months of the year.

Top athletes he developed included Bob King, Mel Perry, Dick Cephas, Marshall Dickerson, Quinton Sterling, Spencer Henry, and Randy Brittingham. Johnson himself was a high jumper for Howard High School and Indiana University. He was induced into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

Hall of Fame induction: 1994

Rod had an illustrious career both as an athlete and as Padua’s winningest coach. As a Mount Pleasant high schoolboy Lambert was the state record holder in the 100 yards in 9.5 and the 220 yards 21.0 both set in 1960. He was the State High School sprint champion three times and the National Junior AAU champion at 100 yards, run in the record time of 9.6, in 1961. Rod’s running achievements include an indoor 60 yard dash of 6.1, then 0.1 second off the word record.

At Padua, where he coached for 10 years, the Pandas won an amazing 20 State Team Champions in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Over 50 young women that were Padua athletes during Rod’s tenure won state individual titles or were members of winning relay teams at the state meets.

Rod is the state track and cross country historian, and is in charge of the track honor roll published weekly in the paper during the season. Lambert was honored 12 times as Delaware High School Coach of the Year in cross country and track.

Hall of Fame induction: 1994

Mr. Newlin is perhaps the father of modern schoolboy track & field and cross country in the state. As head of the Wilmington Parks and Recreation department he established the State Cross Country Championship at Rockford Park in 1954, he stimulated the summer development meets at Baynard Stadium (where the track is named after him) and encouraged their growth to their high point in the 1970’s. Frank was responsible for the construction of an all-weather track at baynard, which has seen more track meets than probably all of the other venues in the state combined.

Newlin started and conducted the the City Championships and the DelMarVa Relays. The runner with the fastest boy’s time in the state cross country meet receives an award named after Frank (W. Frank Newlin Award, started in 1967). He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1977.