Of late I have been thinking about those who have influenced me over the course of my career. Below I have listed the people in four categories 1) Teachers/Professors 2)Coaches 3)Sport Scientists 4)Athletes. Some of these people I have been able to work directly with, some I just learned from through reading their writing and some through observation. The biggest influence on me has been my family – My mother and father who came to this country without education or knowledge of the language. Their work ethic and the standards they set for us are my guiding light. My older brother Frank. My wife Melissa and our children Curt and Kristen. They are my daily inspiration.
Teachers/Professors
Father Bernard
Father Alexander
Professor Canales
Sherm Buttom
Coaches
Charles Kuehl
Bill Crow
Bill Bowerman
Ken Shannon
Red Estes
Tom Tellez
Sam Adams
Marshall Clark
Chuck Coker
Dan McClymond
Mihaly Igloi
Pete Pedersen
Frank Dick
Doc Councilman
Tadeusz Starzynski
Vitold Kreer
Arthur Lydiard
Percy Cerutty
Gerard Mach
Bud Winter
Sandor Calvesi
John Jesse
Fred Wilt
Joe Vigil
Jimmy Radcliffe
John Larralde
Kevin McGill
Gary Winckler
Jim Steen
Scientists
Per Olaf Astrand
David Costill
Jim Hay
Jack Daniels
Chuck Dillman
Betty Atwater
Bob Nidefer
Pavo Komi
Carmelo Bosco
Athletes
Curt Harper
Pat Matzdorf
Jim Ryun
Anthony Sandoval
Kristen Gambetta