Morton County
KSGenWeb

 

 

DR. GLENN CUNNINGHAM
HOMECOMING

In Elkhart, Kansas on November 16, 1984

As recorded from Morton County 1886-1986 Cornerstone of Kansas Published by the Morton County Historical Society, (620) 697-2833, US Highway 56, Elkhart, KS 67950

  • Glenn Cunningham, a native of Elkhart, Kansas, severely burned as a youth and told by doctors that he would never walk again, yet overcame this tragedy through personal perseverance.
  • In 1932 he set an American record in the mile with a time 4:11.1
  • He ran on the 1932 and 1936 U.S. Olympic teams winning a silver medal in 1936 in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:48.4.
  • In 1933, while a student at the University of Kansas, he won, in Chicago, the NCAA mile in 4:09.8 and came back later to win the 880 in 1:50.9.
  • In 1934 he set another world record in the mile with a time of 4:06.7 which stood for three years.
  • In 1938 he set an indoor mile world record with a time of 4:04.4 and given credit with making the mile the glamour event in indoor track, and was selected as the outstanding track performer in the 100-year history of Madison Square Garden.
  • In 1940, in Fresno, California, he ran his fastest, and his last, farewell race with a time of 3:48.0.
  • In 1974 he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in Charleston, West Virginia.
  • In 1983 he was inducted into the Kansas State High School Athletic Association, Hall of Fame.
Taken from State of Kansas Proclamation
by the Governor of Kansas




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This page was last updated 07/10/2024