SCR Hall of Fame Inductees

BOB LAWTON; Original founder of Space Coast Runners

"...Space Coast Runners was founded right after the 1976 Melbourne marathon. Bob and another runner got together under a tree at a picnic table after the race and both realized that this area needed more activities for the nonmarathoner. There was a real need for runs of shorter distances, which would include the entire family. The "FUN RUN" and Space Coast Runners was born!

The 1st meeting of Space Coast Runners was held at the Cocoa Beach Library with 7 initial charter members. They made a decision to hold fun runs on the beach twice a month. There were three races of one, three, and five mile distances. Bob, who had recently retired from the Air Force, had just started running to lose weight and get back into his previous good "military shape". He laughingly stated that he did not get to run in many of these races as he was so busy directing, registering, compiling results, and organizing the next race...."

Submitted by Mary Ramba

JACK KENWORTHY; Original Member Who Continues to Give

"...His love of running gave him the idea to start a jogging class. He developed the curriculum and persuaded BCC to implement the course. He was the first instructor and his training and encouragement gave this author her first taste of the endorphins and freedom which only running can provide. Also during this time, Jack, together with his friends, developed a loose knit running club called the "Space Coast Runners". Jack encouraged the "joggers" in his classes to join. He remembers an unusual character showing up for his jogging class in the late seventies raring to run in army boots. This feisty, older student's name was Harold Tucker. In addition to persuading Harold to join SCR, Jack also showed him the advantages of trading in the boots for the running shoes of that time.

He still is encouraging others to run. He has been the Brevard County coach for Team-in-Training for the last four years. He not only runs and/or walks with his folks at their races but he also raises his own funds, something the TNT coaches don't have to do. He wants to be an example so he chooses not to accept the "perks" provided to the TNT volunteer staff. ..."

Submitted by Patti Sponsler-Sher

HAROLD TUCKER; Gone But NEVER Forgotten

"...Being in his eighties never hindered his appreciation for the wonders of nature. I'm sure that is one of the reasons he took over as coach of the girls' cross country team at Melbourne High School.

In the early days of the club (1979) Harold gathered race results. As a matter of fact there were very few things that Harold didn't do for the club as the years went by including being President, VP, Fun Run Director, Equipment Mgr., Marathon Race Director, Ultra Marathon Race Director, Bargain Beach 10K Race Director, and the list goes on. If something needed doing, Harold would do it. He was singularly responsible for acquiring the club's finish clock and for getting the HAM radio support for the club's longer races..."

Submitted by Henry Campbell

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 Viet Nam 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. .."

Submitted by John Chioma

DON DORE SR.; Never Gives Up

"...Don became a member of SCR in January 1982. In 1989, he and Gary Castner took on the task of compiling the ROY statistics. Don has also been a longstanding board member and has directed the Melbourne Beach Fun Run since 1993.

As a runner, Don won the 55-59 AG in the ROY series for three years in a row. Of note was that the 1985 ROY series consisted of ten races. Don scored 10 points for each of those races for a total of 100 points. He won every race against all comers including the Space Coast Marathon, a perfect score! He has run 15 marathons, two of which have been Boston. Some health problems have tried to sideline Don, but he does not give up. He is still winning awards in his age group at local races. Don has been a great inspiration to other runners. He has coached several and has encouraged many...."

Submitted by Dave Farrall

Henry Campbell; Always A Champion of the Sport

"....Henry has been racing since 1979 and has run more than 580 races. He began attending SCR meetings to learn about running and ended up running the club. He was President for 2 terms, and in those years the newsletter went from a single sheet to 16 pages published at no cost; the SCR joined the RRCA; the membership grew from 70 to 400+; scoring boards were perfected, and results started being sent to and printed in the newspaper. Henry's score boards are well known to most local runners. When it seems to take forever to get the awards, lots of runners will ask "why aren't they using Henry's boards? We could have eaten breakfast by now."

Henry did not have an allegiance to the club, his allegiance was to the runners and the sport and used the club as a means to contribute to the cause. Once he had a phone call hours before an early evening race telling him that the race was not going to have a water station or traffic control Henry showed up with the race equipment but wouldn't unload it until he got a promise that those items would be correct. He used to get in arguments about the cost of races and flag those in the newsletter which he thought were too high....."

Submitted by Marty Winkel

Rebecca Sparks: Passion for All Things Running

"...Rebecca began running in high school and set four, still unbroken, Kansas State High School records. Her record-setting running continued in college where she presently also holds six records at Bethany College in Kansas. She was a 6-time medallist and World-Wide Air Force National Champion. She has broken 27 Florida road race course records, has been the Overall Female Track Shack Grand Prix champion five times as well as the SCR ROY Female champion a total of six times. Her PRs include a 5k time of 17:29 and a 10K of 36:34.

Rebecca has been a SCR Board member since 1991. She was Race Director for the "Downtown Melbourne 5k" for two years as well as the creator and Race Director for the Cocoa Beach Thanksgiving "Turkey Trot 5k". She created and continues to direct the "Peak When it Counts" running camp which, in conjunction with SCR, was Brevard's first public enterprise to promote running fitness and enjoyment. Additionally, Rebecca opened Brevard's first and only exclusive running specialty store "Up & Running on the East Coast, inc." Finally, Rebecca has created and will be sponsoring the "Summer Races Series, 2001", Brevard's only summer running series..."

Submitted by Patti Sponsler-Sher

Doug Butler : Never Slows Down

"....Doug began running competitively in 1986. He is a two-time NJCAA All-American in the marathon, finishing second in the nation in 1991. His marathon PR is 2:25:58 which he ran in 1995. He has been the Overall Male Track Shack Grand Prix champion five times as well as the SCR ROY Male champion a total of eight times. His PRs include a 5k in 14:52, a 10k of 30:54 and a 15k of 47:52. He finished the Walt Disney World Marathon in 6th place overall with a time of 2:38:00.

Doug has directed multiple races including the "Mardi Gras 5k" from 1995 through 1998. It fast became the largest running race in Brevard County's history and still holds a record number of participants of over 1,100. Doug also implemented the successful "River's Edge 1/2 Marathon". He served as Treasurer for SCR for three years. He is currently the Cross Country Coach for Holy Trinity Academy..."

Submitted by Marty Winkel

MARTY WINKEL: A Running Inspiration

“… Marty has been an avid runner for many years, currently sustaining a streak of over 10 years without missing a single day of running. He has almost completed his goal to run a marathon in every state.

Marty has been a real champion for running in Brevard County. He is a past Space Coast Runners Club president, and has directed dozens of races and helped at hundreds more. For many years he also organized long runs on Sunday mornings and encouraged many people to run with the group…”

Submitted by Committee

TERRY HAYDEN: Always A Leader

“... Terry has been one of the Space Coast's top Masters and Overall runners, winning the masters title in the Track Shack Grand Prix Series for 5 years.

Terry has been an active member of the Space Coast Runners since 1988, serving as the club treasurer for 7 of those years. He has volunteered at numerous Space Coast races every year, including serving as race director, or assisting the Race Director of the Indian River 8K for the past 10 years.

Terry is the current girls Cross Country and Track Coach at Titusville High School...”

Submitted by Doug Butler