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COLUMBUS - The legacy of Belpre's lone state championship in boys track and field from 1952 is for the most part always present year after year at the Ohio State Track and Field Meet in Columbus.
Dick Tredway at 88 years young has missed attending only a handful of state track meets since he graduated from Belpre High School and placed in four events during the Golden Eagles' title run 70 years ago.
During the Division III boys 3200 final Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Tredway was encouraged by the public announcer to stand so the fans could recognize his devotion to the state track meet as part of the 70th anniversary since Belpre outscored runner-up Anderson Township by one-third of a point for the Class B championship.
"When I heard the announcement, I thought there was somebody here at the stadium that had my name," Tredway said. "I figure I have been attending the state track meet more than 60 times. I missed the one in Dayton and missed another four when I was in the service.
"Those might be the only times I missed going."
Tredway still calls his birthplace of Belpre home. He has never lived elsewhere. In addition to the Belpre athletes, he has his program in hand so he can follow the entire contingent of Washington County state qualifiers.
As far as changes from his days of competing today's athletes are bigger and stronger, and they don't have to deal with cinder tracks.
"Cinders weren't bad, but when it rained on dirt surfaces you were in trouble," Tredway said. "One year when I was maybe 70, I walked across the newer surfaces at one of the stadiums. It made me want to run again."
In 1952, the state track meet ran under a two-class system. The number of participating schools in each class were that much larger. Tredway won the 120-yard hurdles, placed third in the low hurdles and joined the mile relay which finished third.
Tredway also placed in a four-way tie for fourth place in the high jump. Thus, the explanation for the one-third point in the team standings.
During his high school career, Tredway had several brushes with greatness. Because he ran the hurdles, Treadway competed against future three-time Olympic gold medal winner Glenn Ashby "Jeep" Davis.
Davis attended Marietta High School then transferred to Barberton High School where he single-handedly won the 1954 Class A state championship for the boys track team after scoring all 20 points.
"Jeep Davis was one heck of a nice guy," Tredway said. "I ran against him three or four times. He beat me (handily).
"My wife (Ruth) has a niece who lives in Barberton. I asked her if she ever hears of Jeep Davis. She said, 'Hear of him! There is a Jeep Davis Boulevard, a Jeep Davis gym.'
Jeep Davis coached the Barberton High School track team for 33 years. He died in 2009 at the age of 74.
As for Tredway, he will continue to make the annual roadtrip to Columbus for the state track meet. He is easy to spot. Like his father, Dick is a life-long New York Yankee fan and will, in all likelihood, be sporting their baseball cap.
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com