12/2/2006
column
by John Gunther, sports editor, Coos Bay, Ore., World
Just
as there likely are a few turkey leftovers still in the fridge, there are
leftover stories from a busy fall sports season that got lost in the hectic
playoff pursuits for area football, volleyball and soccer teams.
One
of those was the dedication of North Bend's track before a late-season football
game.
When
a committee appointed by the North Bend School Board solicited names for the
track dedication, one quickly rose to the top - Frank E. Shriver. And now the
track bears his name, just as the football field is named after legendary coach
Vic Adams.
A
new sign near the east entrance to the stadium fittingly honors both men. While
Adams led North Bend's football and basketball programs in the 1930s and '40s,
Shriver built up the track program, complete with the oval his athletes ran on.
"Dad
literally did build the track,” said Dr. Keith Shriver, who was in town for the
dedication ceremonies and remembers playing in the dirt while his dad worked on
the facility. "On his own, he went out and dug the pits.”
Frank
Shriver also arranged for the city grader to level the surface, worked with
students to build and paint hurdles and put in the curbs along the track with
cedar donated from a local timber company.
In 1954, he secured funding from the
school board so that a cinder surface - the common style of that era - could be
put on the track. In 1956, he had cement curbs placed around the inside and
outside lanes of the track, and in 1958 he arranged for the cinder to be
replaced with fine crushed rock, which remained until the first all-weather
surface was installed in 1973.
Meanwhile,
Shriver also was building a solid track program, aided by the improved
facilities. The Bulldogs finished second to Medford by one point at the 1954
state track meet, and were second to Medford again, by just one-third of a
point, a year later.
He
coached state champions Jack Sausser, who won the high jump in 1949 and 1950;
Hoddy Schepman, the long jump winner in 1955; and Allen Erickson, the mile
champion in 1956.
Shriver
also started the school's cross country program and led the Bulldogs to third
at state in 1955 and fourth in 1956. Those were the school's best finishes for
boys teams until the Bulldogs won the state championship this fall.
Shriver
retired from coaching in 1958, but continued to serve as a teacher and dean of
boys before becoming vice principal. He retired in 1974 with a special
nickname, Mr. Bulldog.
"He
really was Mr. Bulldog,” said Keith Shriver. "He was totally dedicated to
North Bend High School and the city of North Bend. They gave him that title at
his retirement party.”
Frank
Shriver died in 1991. His son said he would feel honored by the recognition,
just as the family is.
"It's
really a dream come true for our family,” Keith said. "The only regret we
have is that Mom and Dad are not alive.”
Keith
Shriver said he was led into the education field - he's a professor of
international business in Arizona - by watching his father's positive influence
on students.
"The
most meaningful thing is the former athletes and students would come by the
house when I was growing up and talk about what an impact he had,” Keith said.
"He was quite an inspiration.”
Frank
Shriver grew up in North Bend and excelled in football, basketball and track.
During his senior year, in 1927, he was class president and won the Bryant Cup,
which recognized the school's outstanding athlete. He also set a county record
in the 220-yard dash that stood for 33 years.
He
earned his teaching degree at Pacific University and eventually returned to
North Bend. He actually coached football for two years before becoming the
track coach in 1949.
His
son remembers him as much for his work outside of athletics as for his work
with the track team.
"I
think he really did contribute a lot, both in athletics and also helping
people,” Keith said. "We watched him really be completely dedicated to
North Bend High School, and my mom, also.”
Hilda
Shriver was the school nurse.
"We
admired our parents with the way they conducted their lives,” Keith said.
The
Shriver family has a long track history at North Bend. Frank's older brother,
Irwin, and younger brother, Gail, both were county champions, as was his son,
Ralph.
Keith
Shriver still holds the county record in the 220-yard dash and was elected to
the Linfield College Hall of Fame after a career that included winning 51
consecutive college races from 1968 to 1970.
Bruce
Shriver was a district tennis champion and later lettered in track and field at
Oregon State University.
The
success has spread to other areas, including Tualatin High School, where two of
Bruce Shriver's children, David and Kyle Shriver, hold school records in track
and field. Jill Shriver, the grandchild of Frank's brother, Phil, runs for
Tulane University.
Frank
Shriver was among the first people inducted into the North Bend High School
Hall of Fame - Keith Shriver also was in that first class - and now will be
remembered as the namesake for the track, as well.
All
of his children - Keith, Bruce, Ralph and Nancy (Harrison) were at the recent
ceremony - along with his brother, Phil.
"It
was very gratifying to see the outpouring of support of all the community after
all these years,” Keith Shriver said.