William Frank VERNER

Bill Verner at one time held the Purdue records at 880 y one mile, and two miles, and the Indiana state records for 880 y and the mile. In the 1904 Olympics 1,500 m, Purdue took the second and third places with Verner winning the silver medal and Lacey Hearn the bronze. These two also ran well for the Chicago AA team in the four mile team race, finishing third and fourth respectively Verner also placed fourth in the steeplechase and sixth in the 800 m. He was offered a chance to go to Athens with the 1906 Olympic team, but preferred to stay behind and represent Purdue as their captain in his last year of collegiate eligibility. Verner graduated with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1906 and for many years served as consulting engineer to the Washtenaw County Treasurer in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Personal Bests: 880y – 2:01.2 (1905); 1500 – 4:06.8 (1904).