It was a warm-up statement to a standard capacity home-side crowd and that day’s competition that the headliners were on stage. It was an awesome sight.
That, and plenty of follow up record-setting performances, was the handiwork of then Roosevelt assistant coach Randy Waggoner, who died on Monday of heart failure.
Waggoner and the Teddies visited my high school, Beavercreek, in the spring of 1970. It was an ongoing effort by the two schools to bridge the racial divide that permeated here and elsewhere during that era. Just like at the stadium, I liked their show.
Waggoner easily mixed with both teams in essentially what was a practice dual meet for younger runners. He coaxed his best 400 sprinter into running a dreaded mile, the payoff being dinner. Waggoner’s only condition was the runner had to be in last place with one lap remaining, and he had to win the race.
It was infectious watching Waggoner and the Teddies goad and cheer the super sprinter on, especially after we got wind of what was happening. The chosen Teddie blew by me and a dozen more runners, made up about a half lap and easily won.
It was a great day to be a part of track and field and the more important issue that the schools were trying to address. Thanks, Coach Waggoner. You were the right person at the right time.
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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