Don Lash
Encyclopedia
Donald Ray Lash was an American
long-distance runner who won 12 national titles from 1934 to 1940, including seven consecutive men's national cross-country
championships, and who set a world's record for the two-mile run in 1936.
Born in Bluffton, Indiana
, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana
, where he graduated from high school in 1933 after setting a new Indiana
state record of 4:30.5 for the indoor mile. As a student at Indiana University
, Lash set an American record of 31:06.9 for 10,000 meters. In June 1936, he broke Paavo Nurmi
's world record for the two mile
, running 8:58.4, besting Nurmi's record by 1.2 seconds. Competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics
, he placed 13th in the 5,000-meter run and eighth in the 10,000-meter.
In 1938, Lash set a meet record of 14 min., 39 sec., for 5,000 meters at the Amateur Athletic Union
indoor national championships. That same year he won the James E. Sullivan Award
as the nation's top amateur athlete.
Lash attributed his endurance to his unusual ability to store oxygen in his system. Speaking to a meeting in Auburn in 1937, Lash said that he knew when he would win a race by having a blood count before running.
World War II
precluded any further chance for Lash to compete in the Olympics. Having married Margaret Mendenhall in 1938, Lash began a law-enforcement career with the Indiana State Police, then became an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
in 1941. He retired from the FBI in 1962 to become a regional director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
and appeared frequently as a motivational speaker
.
In 1973, he opened a real estate
business in Rockville, Indiana
. He also was elected to five terms (1973–1982) as a Republican
member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, serving Fountain
, Montgomery
and Parke
counties.
Lash died of spinal cancer at a hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana
, and is buried in Rush Creek Cemetery near Tangier
in Parke County. Don and Margaret Lash had two sons and a daughter.
Don Lash Park in Auburn is named for him. Lash was inducted into the USA Track and Field
Hall of Fame in 1995.
Lash's autobiography, The Iron Man from Indiana: the Don Lash Story, was published in 1999.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long-distance runner who won 12 national titles from 1934 to 1940, including seven consecutive men's national cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
championships, and who set a world's record for the two-mile run in 1936.
Born in Bluffton, Indiana
Bluffton, Indiana
Bluffton is a city in Harrison and Lancaster Townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,897 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wells County.-Geography:Bluffton is located at ....
, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana
Auburn, Indiana
Auburn is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,086 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1836 by Wesley Park , the city is the county seat of DeKalb County. Auburn is also known as Home of the Classics.-Geography:...
, where he graduated from high school in 1933 after setting a new Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
state record of 4:30.5 for the indoor mile. As a student at Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, Lash set an American record of 31:06.9 for 10,000 meters. In June 1936, he broke Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
's world record for the two mile
Two miles
The 2 mile is a historic running distance. Like the mile run, it is still contested at some invitational meets, perhaps because it provides an easier record to break for meet promoters , as well as its historical chronology. It is largely superseded by the 3000 m and 5000 m, and by the 3200m in...
, running 8:58.4, besting Nurmi's record by 1.2 seconds. Competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, he placed 13th in the 5,000-meter run and eighth in the 10,000-meter.
In 1938, Lash set a meet record of 14 min., 39 sec., for 5,000 meters at the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
indoor national championships. That same year he won the James E. Sullivan Award
James E. Sullivan Award
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
as the nation's top amateur athlete.
Lash attributed his endurance to his unusual ability to store oxygen in his system. Speaking to a meeting in Auburn in 1937, Lash said that he knew when he would win a race by having a blood count before running.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
precluded any further chance for Lash to compete in the Olympics. Having married Margaret Mendenhall in 1938, Lash began a law-enforcement career with the Indiana State Police, then became an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in 1941. He retired from the FBI in 1962 to become a regional director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
and appeared frequently as a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
.
In 1973, he opened a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business in Rockville, Indiana
Rockville, Indiana
Rockville is a town in Adams Township, Parke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,607 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Parke County. It is known as "The Covered Bridge Capital of the World".-Geography:...
. He also was elected to five terms (1973–1982) as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, serving Fountain
Fountain County, Indiana
Fountain County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana on the east side of the Wabash River. The county was officially established in 1826 and was the 53rd in Indiana. The county seat is Covington....
, Montgomery
Montgomery County, Indiana
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 38,124. The county seat is Crawfordsville-Early history and settlement:...
and Parke
Parke County, Indiana
Parke County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It was formed in 1821 out of a portion of Vigo County. The county seat is Rockville....
counties.
Lash died of spinal cancer at a hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, and is buried in Rush Creek Cemetery near Tangier
Tangier, Indiana
Tangier is an unincorporated town in Liberty Township, Parke County, Indiana, USA.-Geography:Tangier is located at at an elevation of 630 feet....
in Parke County. Don and Margaret Lash had two sons and a daughter.
Don Lash Park in Auburn is named for him. Lash was inducted into the USA Track and Field
USA Track and Field
USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking...
Hall of Fame in 1995.
Lash's autobiography, The Iron Man from Indiana: the Don Lash Story, was published in 1999.