Hall of Fame
As an undergraduate student-athlete at Slippery Rock State College, Fred Lucas had one of the finest careers in the history of his adopted hometown university's cross country program.
In recognition of his record-setting performance, Lucas will be included in the seven-person Class of 2013 inducted into the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame in September.
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Slippery Rock, Lucas earned All-America status in 1963 with a 14th-place finish in the NCAA College Division Cross Country Championships after placing 18th in the 1962 national competition.
The Rock's top runner in all four of his collegiate campaigns, Lucas led The Rock to three consecutive Pennsylvania State College Conference team championships (1962-64) while claiming two individual championships (1962 ands 1963) and one conference runner-up individual honor (1964).
Both of Lucas' conference-championship efforts came in course-record-setting times, first as a sophomore at Millersville and a year later as a junior on his home course in Slippery Rock.
Prior to claiming top honors in 1962 and 1963, Lucas finished fifth in the 1961 conference championship. He was the 1964 conference runner-up.
Lucas graduated from Slippery Rock in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education.
Following graduation, Lucas served 35 years as a health and physical education instructor at Herron Hill Junior High School and Schenley High School. He led Schenley to three Pittsburgh city track and field championships as a head coach and helped the Spartans win nine more as an assistant coach.
The Tri-State Track Coaches Association, in 2002, presented Lucas with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his years of service and commitment.
Lucas also coached football and swimming at Schenley. In the summers, he coached the New Image Track Club and was the coordinator of the University of Pittsburgh's National Summer Youth Sports basketball program.
