Gil Dodds

Gilbert Lothair Dodds (June 23, 1918 – February 3, 1977), called "The Flying Parson", was an American middle-distance runner. In the 1940s, he held the American and world records for the mile run. He was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1943.

Biography Gilbert Lothair Dodds was born in Norcatur, Kansas, one of five children and the son of Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Dodds.

The family moved to Falls City, Nebraska, when Rev. Dodds became the minister at Falls City Brethren Church. Gil Dodds attended Falls City High School, where he became a distance runner, coached by Lloyd Hahn, a runner in the 1924 Summer Olympics who lived nearby. In 1935, he entered two events at a track meet in Peru, Nebraska, and won both, setting state records in the mile (4:49.6) and half-mile (2:09.5), breaking the old records by 13.4 and 4.5 seconds, respectively.

He attended Ashland College (A.B., 1941), Gordon Divinity School (B.Div., 1945) and Wheaton College (M.A., 1948) and had a winning steak of 39 races. His time of 4:07.2 broke the old record by 0.1 second, which was jointly held by Glenn Cunningham, Charles Fenske and Leslie MacMitchell.

In 1947, he resumed running with the goal of making the 1948 Olympic team. in 4:05.3, a career best time

Ministry As part of his ministry, Dodds used a personal story to explain the Scripture verse Hebrews 12:1, "let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress, and run with endurance the race that lies before us."

Awards and honors Dodds was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1943. He was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

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