STRAIT, Ralph L. ~ Graceland's Hall of Fame

STRAIT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/25/2013 at 04:38:14

HALL of FAME

Ralph L. Strait
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Ralph L. STRAIT made the news as a star runner at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon. In the state meet his senior year, he ran the mile in 4:26.7 to beat Dyrol Burleson, an extremely tough competitor who later broke the four-minute mile. STRAIT ran the third fastest high school mile in the nation in 1957, with a time of 4:21.7 in the Oregon A.A.U meet.

After serving two years in the navy, he was back in the headlines as Graceland track and cross country star, setting conference records in the ½ mile, mile, and two-mile. His mile record of 4:11 still stands as a Graceland record.

One of the most outstanding performances was in the 1962 Graceland Relays. He ran in four events for a total of three mile, winning the mile at 4:15.2 and anchoring three winning relay events.

He received his B.A. from Graceland in 1965 with a major in elementary education. In 1967, he added a second major in physical education.

STRAIT, who taught at Lamoni Elementary School was killed in a small plane crash on March 3, 1972.

Ralph L. STRAIT was inducted into Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 1994.

NOTE: Ralph L. STRAIT, Jr. was born on January 4, 1939. ~ findagrave.com

SOURCE: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php

Submission and note by Sharon R Becker, August of 2013