BILL DILLARD: Always a Runner and Gentleman

“…Bill started running in grammar school relay races for PE and Boy Scouts. He was on the track team in the 7th grade. In his senior year in High School, Bill was elected captain of the Charleston HS track team. He ran a record mile of 4:38 and an 800 of 2:00 flat. Bill joined the Air Force in 1942, continuing to run. In 1962, he was advised that he was being sent to Vietnam and, if shot down, he would have to run out of there. He continued his running program.

In the 60-64 AG years later, he ran a winning 10K time of 47:20. In 1991, at the age of 67, Bill ran the Melbourne 5K in 22:46. Bill has been the Race Director of the Space Coast Marathon and Half for years, measuring and re-measuring the course as traffic has increased and changes to the original course were required. He is the person who measures and certifies race courses in Brevard County. He has served as an active Board member of the Space Coast Runners and volunteers in all capacities where needed.”

BILL DILLARD, NOMINATION FOR THE SPACE COAST RUNNERS HALL OF FAME

Bill started running in grammar school relay races for PE and Boy Scouts. He was on the track team in the 7th grade. He was a sprinter in the hundred yard dash in ten flat a few times. He did the mile in less than five minutes and the half in about 2:10.

In his senior year Bill was elected captain of the Charleston High School (SC) track team with a record 4:38 in the mile and a 2 flat in the half. He was on the swim team and swam the hundred yard breast stroke in 1:10.

He won the Golden Gloves novice championship as a fly-weight in 1941. In 1942 he won an area and regional open championship and was invited to go to New York to fight but would have missed to much school and couldn’t go.

Bill joined the Army Air Force in December 1942 as a private. He ran and did amateur boxing. He entered the flying program and running was part of the training. In 1962 he was advised he would be sent to Vietnam. If shot down, he might have to run out of there. He started a running program that he kept until recently when he fell and had to have surgery.

In 1991 at 67 he did the Melbourne 5K in 22:46. He did the Space Coast Marathon with a time of 4:30:28 in the 60-65 age group; also Best of 10K in age 60-65 with 47:20. He is now back to walking with some jogging.

Bill has been the race director for the Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon for several years. He has measured and re-measured the course several times as traffic has increased and changes to the original course were required.

He has been Fun Run Director for the Palm Bay Fun Run for many years.

Bill is the person who measures and certifies race courses in Brevard County.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Space Coast Runners and attends most meetings in addition to his duties around the world as a dog-show judge.

I hereby nominate Bill Dillard to the Space Coast Runenrs Hall of Fame. — Submitted by John Chioma, Vice-President, Space Coast Runners Inc.