Ronald H. DAWS

Ron Daws was a distance runner at the University of Minnesota and later turned to the marathon. He won the AAU marathon in 1967, finishing second in 1970 and third in 1968. At Boston he placed fourth in 1969 and fifth in 1968, his best finishes. Daws also ran in the 1967 Pan American Games marathon, but failed to finish.

Daws later worked as a research analyst for the Minnesota Department of Jobs and Training for almost 30 years. He took up art, specializing in water colors, and also turned to cross-country skiing, which he said he liked better than running. He also wrote several books, including The Self-Made Olympian (1971) and Running Your Best (1985). Daws was briefly married to New Zealand marathoner Lorraine Moller in the 1980s, but they divorced. In 1986 he was inducted into the National Road Runners Hall of Fame. Daws died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack in July 1992.

Personal Bests: 3 miles – 14:02.4 (1968); Marathon – 2-23:45 (1967).