Ray Hatton

Raymond Robert (Ray) Hatton (February 4, 1932 – March 4, 2015) was an English educator, author, and long-distance runner. Born in England, Hatton moved to the United States in 1956 to attend college, earning degrees in education and geography from University of Idaho and the University of Oregon. He was an award-winning college geography professor for many years. Hatton wrote ten books on Oregon geography, history, and climatology. In the 1970s and 1980s, he won numerous Masters level running championships and set American records in several long-distance running events. Ran a Masters WR in the Mile at 4:26.0 in 1972. Hatton was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2001.

Early life

Hatton was born on February 4, 1932, in Lichfield, England. He began competitive running in 1943. Running with the Birchfield Harriers, he ran a 4:11 mile and 8:57 two-mile. In 1952, he represented England in the International Cross Country Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where he finished 16th overall behind future Olympic Gold medalist Alain Mimoun. His English team took the silver medal behind Mimoun's French team.

Hatton was awarded a track scholarship to University of Idaho in 1956. He graduated from the university in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He then went on to acquire a Master of Education degree in secondary education from the university, completing his post-graduate work in 1966.

Educator

In 1969, Hatton earned a Master of Arts in geography from University of Oregon. His master's thesis was on the impact of tourism on Central Oregon. Later that year, he joined the faculty at Central Oregon Community College. As a member of the faculty, his academic interests included economics, cultural geography, land use, and climatology. In 1973, he published his first book, a study of the weather and climate of Central Oregon. The college gave him a sabbatical during the 1975–1976 academic year to research and write his second book. He dedicated that book, High Desert Of Central Oregon, to Phil Brogan, a well-known Central Oregon journalist and historian.

He received a doctorate degree in geography from the University of Oregon in 1989. During his tenure at Central Oregon Community College, he published six books on Oregon geography, history, and climatology. He retired from Central Oregon Community College in 1993.

Books

Over the years, Hatton's research, including numerous first-person field interviews, has played an important role in preserving Central Oregon's pioneer history.

Distance runner

Hatton attended the University of Idaho on a track scholarship from 1956 until 1960. As an undergraduate, he competed in both track and cross-country at the varsity level. In 1959, he won the Pacific Coast Conference cross country championship. After college, Hatton continued to compete in elite running events. During the 1970s and 1980s, he won national championship races and set a number American long-distance running records in Masters level competitions. In 1974, he won both 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters events at the Amateur Athletic Union's national masters championship. Hatton again won the 40–44 age division national championship in 10,000 meters in 1976. In 1979, he competed in the 45–49 age division, winning the 5,000 meters and placing second in the 10,000 meters.

In 1981, Hatton was named Masters 45–49 Age Division Runners of the Year by USA Track and Field (the governing body for track and field in the United States). The next year, Hatton was recognized with the same award in the 50–54 age category. In 1984, he won the national masters title in the 10,000 meters, running in the 50–54 age division. He competed in the 55–59 age division in 1987, winning the 5,000 meters and placing second in the 1,500 meters. In 1988, Hatton was the top ranked 55–59 age division runner in the United States in both the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters. That year, he posted a time of 9:37.8 in the 3,000 meters along with a 16:35.5 in the 5,000 meters. The next year, he continued as the top ranked runner in the 3,000 meters, clocking a time of 9:34.0. After back surgery in 1992, Hatton retired from competitive running. As of 2013, four of his American records still stand:

American 1,500 meters record (Masters 50–54 age division) – 4:05.8 (set 8 July 1982) American 3,000 meters record (Masters 50–54 age division) – 8:53.8 (set 25 June 1982) American 10,000 meters road race record (Masters 50–54 age division) – 31:48 (set 23 May 1982) American 10,000 meters record (Masters 50–54 age division) – 32:10.4 (set 18 June 1983)

Personal life

For most of his adult life, Hatton lived with his wife Sylvia in Bend, Oregon.