A
Collection of Your Memories
Thank you so very much for
taking the time to share
your Loucks Games Memories
with us. We hope this site
will help all of us relive
some of the great performances
of the past, allowing us
to gain a new perspective
about them.
(Last Updated
on February 20, 2007)
Fred,
I wanted to share some thoughts on The Loucks
Experience. The Loucks Games will forever hold a
special place in my heart. I hope they continue
forever.
The text below is the same as in the attachment.
Denis
The Loucks
Across the USA, athletes young and old were discussing,
debating, arguing, fighting – should, would Negroes,
African-Americans, Black-Americans boycott the upcoming
Olympic Games. What side should I take, would I take,
did I have a side? It was 1968, I was member of my high
school’s track team and I was different, different not
because I am Black, not because I won races and set
records but because I was a distance runner. I
was a young Black-American distance runner who was told
“you can be an Olympian”. So did I have side? Yes, but
it depended on my latest experience. I recognized that
I was treated differently by persons depending upon
whether they knew me or did not know me as that black
distance runner.
I never met “Coach” Loucks but I am glad he came to
White Plains High School and that he was the kind of man
he was. Coach Loucks touched my life and lives many
just by living the life he did. The Glenn D. Loucks
Memorial Track and Field Games is a testament to Coach
Loucks and his life. My coach, Joe O’Keefe told us
about a new meet that was to be held at White Plains
High School. The meet was to honor his friend and was
to be run in the Olympic tradition. We did not really
understand what that meant but he said it would be
special. From the moment we arrived, we knew “special”
was an understatement. The fanfare, pageantry and
festiveness of the facility were unlike any that we had
ever witnessed. If this was what Mr. O’Keefe meant by
the Olympic tradition, then on that day we were
Olympians.
The Loucks Games was our Olympics. The meet brought
together the best athletes and recognized them all for
their accomplishments. The opening ceremonies – parade
of athletes, lighting of the torch, and the award
ceremonies for many of us was then and remains today a
life altering event.
By the end of the competition that day, I knew that I
did have a side and I knew that I would not waiver.
There should be no boycott of the Olympic Games. The
spirit and ideals of the Olympic Games should be
fostered among mankind. The Loucks Games does this.
I have difficulty writing about a favorite Loucks Games’
memory. For me The Loucks is more than one event
or one athlete, it’s all of the events, all of the
athletes, all of the coaches, all of the officials, and
all of the spectators.
I never did have the pleasure of presenting the USA in
an Olympic Games but I am an olympian, a three-time
Loucks Games Olympian.
Congratulations on the 40th anniversary of
The Loucks to all at White Plains High School and
the Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Track and Field Games
Organizing Committee, Staff and Volunteers.
Denis Cochran-Fikes
Rice High School
Athlete
2 Mile Run 1968, 1969, 1970
Denis Elton Cochran-Fikes
Compliance Coordinator
University of Pennsylvania
sent 2-20-07
Coach
my favorite memories of the Games wasn't when I was
running. It was years before as a freshman at White
Plains. I loved Football but seeing all the athletes
coming to my/our school just got my adrenalin flowing.
I watched the games that weekend from the beginning to
the end. It felt good to win several trophies in '91
but nothing compared to that first
experience...However Coach Sing's tapping of the 4x400
was just something made for TV.
Tomas Cobb - White Plains High School 1991
Sent 5-8-2006
Hello,
This is Paul Joyce and I really enjoyed the Loucks
homepage. I liked reading the memories part so I
wanted to put mine in.
Fondest Memory-
My fondest memory as a runner at the Loucks Games was
when I was a junior in 1999. It was the first time I
was running in an individual event (800 meters) so it
was an extremely nervous time for me. I remember
getting to White Plains High School on Saturday where
it was a dark and gloomy day. Just looking at the
surroundings where you see teams scattered all over
the place was enough to make me nervous. I remember
watching Chris Lolagne of Suffern win the 400 meters
out of lane 1 in 48.83. His performance inspired me
to do the same in the 800. When the gun went off in
the 800 I got out really bad. I remember there being
a tiny opening between two runners so I took a chance
and barely got by them. That set the stage for me to
hold of Jason Morgan of Lawrence High in the final 100
meters to win in 1:53.68. Winning Loucks that
year was a tremendous feeling and gave me a tremendous
amount of confidence as a runner.
Best Performance-
In 2003, I was an assistant coach at Clarkstown South
High School. I remember watching Newburgh sprinter
Elzie Coleman, who was quickly making a name for
himself, win the 400 meter dash in 47.42 (Later that
season he placed 2nd at nationals in 46.33) anchor
the winning 4x1 and 4x4 where he cruised a 46.5. That
to me was the most incredible performance I have seen
at the Loucks Games to this day.
My
Loucks memories...WOW!
The memories of the crowd,
the atmosphere, Walter Harris (my team mate) lighting
the torch, the nervous tension of waiting for my race
to begin, it was all so great!
********************
All season long I ran the mile, a leg on the 2 mile
relay team and the 3 quarter mile leg on the distance
medley relay team, so I felt I was ready! We had some
really good relay teams, with Craig Masback,
Bob Libbey, Me-Brian Oliver, Walter
Harris, Art Monk, John Reidy and Tom
Silverman. We set a 2 mile relay meet record at
the Lakeland Relays in 1972 or 1973 and we won a few
relays with our distance medley team too.
********************
I was set for my mile race, pumped up and full of
energy. I could run the mile in the 4:30's so I
figured the home crowd, the extra nervous energy, and
my determination would carry me to a medal spot with a
time of 4:20 or less. I was wrong, I didn't win or
even place, but my memories of those days will live
with me forever because I was an athlete, I
participated in The Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Games and
I had fun doing it.
Brian K. Oliver
White Plains High School
from Larry
Klimas:
My
first contact at the Loucks
Games, was with the nicest
person, Jo Falcone. We, Methuen
High, began competing at
the Loucks starting in 1976.
The hospitality of the sponsors
was fantastic and the hosts
were great to all our athletes,
both male and female. Our
athletes looked to the Loucks
meet as the greatest trip
and meet that they competed
in each year. I have kept
most of the programs from
the years that we competed
in the games andstill refer
to them. Methuen has fared
well in most of the meets.
In 1985 two of our hurdlers
Jeff Baker and Dave Rameriz
qualified to run at the
Golden West and at the Junior Nationals ,after running
at the Loucks meet.We have had several trophy winners
and our athletes are so proud to have fared so well.Our
Jr- Sr Prom came into conflict with you great meet
,so we haven`t been able bring our full team. We
miss the meet and the comraderie
that was present in both the athletes and the hosts.
My one story concerns, Ed Kehe, and our girl`s relay
team. My wife took a wrong turn and arrived at the
meet five minutes before the race was to be run.
I talked to Ed figuring that we would be disqualified,
but Mr. Kehe came and told me that he had reseeded
the heats so that it would give us time to warmup.I
told Mr Kehe that I thought it was the nicest act
and the girls really appreciated the opprtunity to
run.Mr Kehe stated that it his pleasure because we
had come so far each year to compete and our athletes
had always conducted themselves as ladies and gentlemen,
also he didn`t want to be part of my divorce proceedings.
The coaches will always be indebted to Jo Falcone
as she told us to stay away places like Peter Pastor`s
and such . Good Luck
Larry Klimas Methuen Track
Coach , Methuen Ma.
from Bryant
Cassie:
My favorite moment in Loucks
that I can remember was
in 2000 when the White
Plains 4x800 team won loucks
and beat Iona. I
was just a spectator but
to see my team mates, Rob
Freelow, Justin Jackson,
Rob Freelow and Marcus
Walton win was a great
inspiration. I hope
this year I can go and
run and have the best perfomance
i ever have.
Bryant Cassie
White Plains Track Athlete
from Michael
Potter:
Dear Coach:
Every morning I see my trophy. Everyday
my wife and kids see
my Trophy. It brings
nothing but wonderful
and cherished memories. My
first experience at seeing
the Loucks Games was
in 1974. I was
walking down the long
driveway to the field
house and remember coming
to the fence. Looking
through the fence I saw
this strong figure of
a man running confidently
down the back straight. Then
after watching him pierce
through the finish line
far across the field
I turned and asked someone
who that was. An
individual said Mark
Belger. I knew
that my dream was to
win a race at the Loucks
Games. The ultimate
would be to win a race
in this prestigious meet
in my home town. Little
did I know that this
dream would come true. I
saw Art Monk win that
same year, boy did he
influence my dream. Then
I was fortunate to be
a member of the WPHS
track team. My
biggest influences were
Nicholas Panaro, and you
Fred Singleton. I
have very fond memories
of Ed Zemmel. My
teammates (all who are
to many to name) but
I will name a few, Greg
Herzog, who kept me competitive
on a daily basis, Roberto
Perez, Marshell Felder,
Eric Jensen, Richard
Snedaker I would make
this email into a book
if I kept going. In
1979 I had made my first
final as a junior in
the Mile run. Greg
Herzog had won and set
a meet record. I
came in last place. I
felt extremely defeated
but realized that only
I could change if I wanted
to. At that moment
I told myself that I
would win next year. I
kept it to myself. One
week before the 1980
Loucks Games the team
had a meeting in the
stands at the track by
the 200m starting line. After
the meeting Coach Panaro
said to me "Mike you
can win this race!" My
level of confidence shot
up 1000%. Thanks
Coach Panaro that really
made me feel great and
I will never forget that. I
had won my trial heat
in the mile. That
night I COULDN'T SLEEP. I
was excited. Made
it to the track prepared
for my race and ran the
race. The most
distinctive memory of
the race was on the gun
lap. I was coming
up on 200m to go. I
was in second place and
felt strong. The
leader was about 40 or
50 meters ahead ( or
it felt like that). I
saw Coach Panaro standing
at the 120 meter mark
GOING NUTS. He
was jumping up and down
telling me to kick and
get this guy YOU GOT
HIM GO GET HIM. The
rest is history. I
dug in and kicked with
all of my life. Couldn't
see anything around me
but realized that all
of a sudden I was passing
my adversary and was
alone in first place. I
felt the roar of the
crowd as I kicked down
the final straight. I
couldn't believe it was
really happening. I
thrusted my arms into
the air crossing the
finish line. I
have a picture of this
in a case hanging on
my living room wall. I
remember falling to the
ground and a bunch of
people picking me up. I
remember going to talk
to the press and Coach
Panaro coming up from
behind me and giving
me a bear hug. Then
on the award stand at
the trophy ceremony I
purposely thrust the
trohpy into the air which
was my way of sharing
the moment with everyone
their, my friends, family,
teammates and coaches. What
a special special day.
Coach Singleton,
you guys gave me some
of the best memories
of my life. Now
I am blessed with a wonderful
wife and beautiful children. Thank
you for all you have
done. You and Coach
Panaro are in my thoughts
daily when I look up
and see my Loucks trophy
everyday. Long
Live White Plains Track!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you,
Michael
Potter
White Plains
High School
1980 Loucks
1600 meter Champion
from Nephi
Tyler:
I can say my Loucks mile
victory was my proudest
high school accomplishment.
After my first Loucks games
in 1998, watching the awards
ceremony, I made
it my goal to be a champion
there the next year. the
Loucks legend powered me
through the interval workouts
my senior year.
Nephi Tylor, Fairhaven (MA) High School - Loucks Champion
1600m (1999)
November 5,
2001:
From Fred Singleton (jsingleton@wpcsd.k12.ny.us):
I guess
someone had to be first,
so why not me. I have had
5 roles at Loucks; participant,
spectator, coach, meet
historian and meet director.
Memories of each follow:
Participant: I ran in the first 3 meets ('68,
'69 and '70). My favorite memory is from 1969 when
our 4 x 220 relay (Dave Patterson, Larry Cox, Billy
Collins -anchor, and I) upset Boys High and Archbishop
Molloy. I remember Billy making his move on the turn,
cutting between the 2 runners and moving into the
lead.
Spectator: Sitting on the hill and watching
Art Monk step over the hurdles in 1976.
Coach: Watching Nick Panaro do so much work
for the Games and thinking how happy I was that it
was him and not me (that didn't last forever).
Meet Historian: One day I was talking with
Suffern coach Ralph Coleman about Jeff van Wie's
3 trophies. I wondered who had collected more. That
was the start of the research that I love to do.
Meet Director: Thank goodness for Nick!
