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Show lOl said, I'He took off like a rocket and made me look like I was standing still.37 The result of this victory led Eyring to challenge his admin- istrative colleagues to a race, and public announcement was issued for July 23, l958, at noon. Academic Vice-President G. Homer Durham and Dean Sterling McMurrin of the College of Arts and Letters accepted the challenge. Eyring won the fifty yard dash easily since both his op- ponents fell down. For his triumph, he was awareded a large cardboard medal, the "Ancient Order of Hermes'l honorary degree of MFA--Master of Fleetfooted Academicians.38 The race was so gratifying to Eyring that he decided to make it an annual event. Since he had trouble getting fellow administrators to run each year, he issued the challenge to his own students. At the l96l race, a field of eighteen began the race, seventeen students and Eyring. He finished eighth in the race with an unofficial time of 7.06 seconds. He provided prize money for the winners: Don McLaughlin won $l5 first prize, Daniel Miles won $l0 second prize, Alan Noodbury won $5 third prize and Joseph Lee received $4 for fourth place. ceived 50¢ for his last place finish. through the race. Earl Garrard re- He fell down about three-fourths Afterward, Eyring took his competitors and their partners to lunch, a tradition he has maintained over the years. What a tradition he established. throughout the United States. The race soon attracted attention The l970 race, for example, generated the following headlines in various papers in the country: from Lafayette, Louisiana, The Daily Advertiser read, "Fleetfooted Prof Races Students," from Flagstaff, Arizona, The Arizona Sun read, "Prof at Age 69 Has Lots of Dash," from Houston, Texas, The Houston Chronicle read, "Noted Chemistry Prof, 69, Holds Annual SO-Yard Dash," from Akron, Ohio, The_ |
