HENRY- THE EARLY YEARS AS PRESIDENT
Fortunately for the running community, a 45 pound overweight, and out of shape engineer was run into the ground within a half mile by his 16 year old daughter. After- or maybe during- the run, Henry thought he was going to die. Instead, he continued to run and became President of the Space Coast Runner’s Club. Bob Lawton, Tom and Dot Pifer founded the SCR in 1978. Not to take anything away from the early presidents of the SCR, but the club drifted along until Henry (and Rosie) took over the presidency of the club in 1980, an office he held for three years. According to Harold Tucker, “Henry devoted three years of his life to the running club”. It was during his tenure as president that the club evolved close to what it is today. He took the club from 70 members to over 300 members and with the help of Robin Weaver started the Space Coast Runners of the Year Series. Henry also wrote a monthly “President’s Column” for the newsletter .A piece of scrap plywood lying in the road or in a trash pile was rescued and soon became a mile marker or an arrow. Most of the wooden signs you see at many of our local races today were made by Henry and donated to the club. It was during Henry’s presidency when the club purchased its first measuring wheel. The 5 and 10 mile “Nick Gailey” courses in Titusville and many courses to the south were measured by Henry in his “spare time”. Henry supposedly put more miles in measuring many of the courses we are running on than he spent running.
HENRY – AFTER THE PRESIDENCY
Henry did not sit idly by after he left office. For a couple of years he maintained the SCR race calendar, in 1986 he was the membership secretary and remained a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for a number of years. As he did when he was president, Henry continued to devote many hours as race director and fun run director. He was the New Years Eve 5k race director for 15 years, marathon race director and race director at countless other races. I am not sure how many times he did this but I know it was at least once, that Henry measured the marathon and half marathon courses and then painted a red lie along the marathon course and a blue line along the half marathon course so the runners would not get lost. I’m not sure if anyone, including Henry, knows how many races he worked as a volunteer .Henry is still supporting races with his finish line system and attends many of our club meetings.
HENRY – THE ENGINEER
Henry’s most notable and recognizable running engineering success is his unpatented finish line scoring system. I don’t think we need to go into detail on how it works, but we can all testify to how good it works. On the other side of the spectrum is Henry’s not so notable, but effective “Keep your head up so you can breathe properly-Roach Clip”. This is a device that Henry uses to keep his head up during races. The theory is that when you drop your head your air passageway is restricted. By clipping this “roach clip” to his shirt collar and his hair, when his head drops his hair will pull and this should remind Henry to pick his head up. By the way, he still uses this at times. I have no idea why Henry doesn’t patent this and advertise it in the national running magazines.
HENRY – THE INSPIRATION
Henry has been noted to stop in a race to help a strugling young runner who is walking. Henry will talk and encourage the runner to just run along with him, proving to himself that he can do a little better with a little more effort. Henry doesn’t mind helping slower runners and doesn’t mind being beat by the same runner he just helped. But he draws the line when turtles pass him in a race. This happened a few years ago during a .marathon. When a turtle tried to pass him in a marathon, Henry stopped running, picked the turtle up and escorted it off the course. To those of you who do not really know Henry, as a suggestion, do yourself a favor. When you have a couple of hours to spare, talk to Henry about his experiences. It will be well worth your time. Henry is a unique individual.
HENRY – THANK YOU
For the efforts stated above and for the many things not mentioned above, we would like to take this time to express our appreciation and gratitude to Henry and present him with the 1996 GOLDEN SHOE AWARD.
Additional Data
I would like to add my voice to the congratulations to Henry Campbell on his Golden Shoe Award.
Once upon a time, in May of 1979, I was running in my first race ever, a 10K in Cocoa Village sponsored by Jolly Trolley. As I labored through the fifth mile, I found myself running next to a guy who was also laboring a bit. We started talking (well, gasping), and he confessed he had a stitch that was really bothering him but he was trying to run through it. He introduced himself and told me his story about his 16 year old daughter turning him into a runner. Meanwhile, he started giving me running tips (where your arms should be, how to make up distance on the road course, etc.). About a quarter mile from the finish, Henry put his head down (1 guess he wasn’t, wearing his roach clip…) and blew past me, despite my own desperate attempt to outkick him.
He sought me out after the race to offer praise for my effort and thanks for getting him through his stitch. Well, that race remains my fastest time ever, and I think I have Henry to thank in large part for it.
Over the years since, our paths have crossed many times, both at runs and at work (back when Henry was employed). He encouraged me to keep running before and after the birth of my two kids, worked his butt off on innumerable races, and was (and is) always a great friend to talk to about just about anything. I just can’t say enough good things about Henry (and Rosie, about whom he tells some remarkable stories!), and I was terrifically pleased to see him win some recognition for it. Congratulations, Henry!
– Marilyn Hoey Howard