Hall of Fame induction: 1995

One of the most gifted and aggressive long sprinters ever from this state, according to one old-timer who has observed the local track scene for over 35 years. Mike was a dominant runner for Conrad High School winning three consecutive State Championships in the 440 yard dash from 1958 through 1960, and also winning the 220 championship in 1959 as well. Mike established the state record in the 440 yard dash at the time.

Brown later competed for the University of Delaware, where he was a star halfback on the football team, in the early 1960’s. The UD top ten performance lists still show Mike as co-holder of the University’s 50 yard dash record in 5.3, and 3rd all time at 200/220, and 400/440 with 21.5 and 48.3 sat in 1963-1964.

Hall of Fame induction: 1995

One of the all-time great Delaware high school track & field Coaches. Crowther’s Mt. Pleasant teams included two Division I team champions between 1959 and 1984. He developed many great individual champions including Rod Lambert, Mike Seitz, Keith Saddler, Paul Olivere, John Pfotzer, Dan Foran, Jim Gano Bob Tjaden, and those exceptional weight men Bill MacLaughlan and Dave Crew.

Bill has been the discus crew chief at the Penn Relays or 14 years, and a respected official of weight throws at the national Indoor and Outdoor Championships, the IC4A Championships, the Colonial Relays, and our High School Championships, all for 12 or more years. He also served as crew chief at the 1988 International Youth Games, and was on the discus crew at the World University Games at Buffalo in 1993.

Bill was honored to be selected as an Olympic official for the 1984 games in Los Angeles. Crowther served as director of the DSSAA track & field committee for thirteen years.

Hall of Fame induction: 1995

Davis is considered to be one of the best ever Delaware high school sprinters. Vando established state records at 100 and 400 meters, and tied the 200 meter state record, while competing for Dickinson High School in 1985, and those records still stand. Davis was State Champion in all three sprints and was named a high school All-American for his 21.2 200 meters in 1985.

Davis attended the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship but was able to continue his running career with the Volunteers long enough to contribute a fast leg to the 1600 meter relay team which scored in the NCAA Championships.

Hall of Fame induction: 1995

Unquestionably the finest half miler ever from Delaware. Bruce was unable to compete for his Dover High School team as a senior, but in 1984 he set a Delaware State record of 1:49.4 while winning the Meet of Champions at Penn’s Franklin Field as a high school junior. Bruce later won the TAC National Junior Championship and placed in the top five at the Keebler High School All-Star meet in Chicago at 800 meters. Bruce holds the State Championship Meet record of 1:51.9, also set during his junior year, and was a three time Division I 800 meter champion, and two time state title-holder at 1600 meters, Harris anchored the Dover High sprint medley team which was ranked by Track & Field News in the top ten in the country, with a time of 3:28.7.

Bruce competed for the great Villanova University team, and anchored the 4 x 800 relay team to victory at the Indoor NCAA Championships, for which he was named an All-American. He represented the USA as a member of the National Junior Team in 1986, and recorded a personal best of 1:47.2 at 800 meters.

Hall of Fame induction: 1995

Emory was Delaware State College’s first track & field All-American. Earlier Howell led Cape Henlopen High School to prominence in the 1970’s and was a significant reason for Cape’s winning the first team State Championship by a down-state squad. Prior to Howell’s arrival down-state teams expected to lose to up-state schools. When Cape Henlopen, shown the way by Emory, stunned the northern schools by winning the State Championship in 1971, lower Delaware achieved track parity with the elite in Delaware high school track & field competition. As a school runner Howell was mainly a middle distance runner, but he ran everything from 100 yards to the two mile run, and never lost a race!

Emory was one of the first Delaware schoolboys to win the Meet of Champions at Penn’s Franklin Field, in a 1:57.7 880 yards, as well as the Philadelphia Track Classic in Philadelphia’s Convention Hall. Emory was a two time State Champion in the 880 running a 1:59.1 in 1970, and he anchored Cape’s winning mile relay team in 1971. It was said by his coach that Emory Howell always ran fast enough to win, no matter what the competition or how far the distance.