Dean Allan THACKWRAY

The two Olympic marathon selection races in 1956 were Boston and the AAU race. Dean Thackwray qualified for the Olympic team by finishing fifth at Boston (third American) and second at the AAUs. He ran for Boston University and the Boston AA. In 1954-56 Thackwray was in the US Army and stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, where he often trained with American marathoner Hal Higdon, later the author of best-selling running books. After his military career Thackwray settled in Pepperell, Massachusetts, right next to the New Hampshire border.

Personal Best: Marathon – 2-20:24 (1956).