UNIVERSITY CHRONICLES: HPC’s National Championship Cross Country Teams
by Dr. Robert G. Mangrum - University Historian

Of course, any investigation of HPC track teams must begin with the legendary John H. (Cap) Shelton, called the “Dean of Texas Track Coaches.”  Shelton was born 20 days after his father died on a farm near Rockwood, Texas in Coleman County on May 12, 1893.  After attending Rockwood schools, Cap was enrolled in HPC’s Academy (high school prep school) in 1912; he graduated with a BA in 1917.  During his undergraduate days he was a fullback with the football team, manager of the basketball team, and ran the 880 and mile in track.

Upon graduation, he taught math at Sherman High School in 1917-18. Then he was in the U.S. Army.  He returned to Sherman and the classroom for the 1919-20 academic year.  In the fall of 1920 he returned to his alma mater as an instructor of math in the HP Academy and as track coach.  He also served as faculty manager of athletics.  He was a student at the University of Michigan in the summer of 1923.  In 1928 the college named Shelton director of athletics.  Although Cap was busy, he found time to do additional graduate study at the University of Illinois and at Baylor.

From 1929 to1931,  Cap served as Registrar of the college.  In 1931 he began to serve as Business Manager of the college, a position he held until 1956.  In 1934 Cap was listed in the college catalog as vice president & business manager.   This additional duty ended in 1938.  Cap also served as director of properties and development from 1956 to 1964.   Cap was so multi-talented that he also served as basketball coach from 1920 to 1924. 

In 1925 he represented HPC at the organizational meetings of the Texas Conference.  He later served as chair of the conference athletic council.  On the cinder track Cap won 15 conference titles between 1925 and 1956.  As a result, he was named to the national track hall of fame in 1955.

When HPC joined the Lone Star Conference, Cap was successful in winning 3 additional conference titles in track between 1957-1964, bringing his total to 17 conference titles from 1925 to 1967.  Recognized by the conference, he was named LSC coach of the year in 1964.  He was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1964 and was also named to the NAIA Hall of Fame.

The NAIA established a men’s cross country championship in 1956; HPC was the second champion in 1957.  Held at Omaha University on November 30, 1957, the Yellow Jacket Cross Country Team consisted of Willie Myers ( finishing 5th), Don Shepard (7th), Louie Hayes (8th), Bob Pullig (10th), and  Lydon Gathright (15th).  Royce Denton (finished 28th) ran but not as a member of the official five man team.  HPC’s team point score was 45 with a team from South Dakota State finishing second with 64 while Oklahoma Baptist was third with 93.  While ten schools had full five man teams in the contest, a total of 24 participated with 132 runners.  Of that total, 85 representing 20 colleges actually started and 77 finished the race.  The weather was clear and cold but without wind.

The quest to capture that second national championship began when Cap’s Cross Country team again traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to participate in the Ninth Annual NAIA Cross Country Championship held at the University of Omaha November 28, 1964.  The competition was held on a cold Saturday with a stiff wind.  Over 144 runners were in the race.  The individual winner was John Camien of Emporia State of Kansas who ran the course in 20 minutes 25.8 seconds.  Jim Ewing of HPC was second with 20:30 while Don Lakin of Fort Hays State in Kansas (of the 1963 defending team champs) was third.  Howard Payne’s Bill Thomas finished fifth with 21:02, Tommy Sikes was seventh with 21:08, Alex McKee was 10th with a time of 21:18, Jack Petty was 11th with 21:19 and Gene Graham was 42nd posting a time of 22:05.

The New York Times noted that the 144 runners, all of whom finished, was the greatest number in NAIA history to that moment.  It was also noted that thirty one colleges were represented with twenty fielding full teams.

As regards team scoring, HPC notched the top spot with a team score of 29 points.  Fort Hays State of Kansas was second with 69 points while Redlands of California had 110, Central Michigan 122, Emporia State of Kansas 134, Southern Oregon 148, Earlham of Indiana 220, Western Illinois and Roberts Wesleyan of New York 239.  Rounding out the top ten was Winona State of Wisconsin with 279 points. 

“Howard Payne captured the spotlight by running away with team honors” and in addition, placed five as All-American in Men’s Cross Country for 1964: Jim Ewing, Bill Thomas, Tommie Sikes, Alex McKee and Jack Petty.  Ewing and Thomas would garner this honor a second time in 1965.  Junior Lee received NAIA All American honors in 1967 for Men’s Cross Country.

Howard Payne continues to this day to hold one record in the NAIA record book: the best winning team score of 29 points in cross country was set that cold, blustery day in Omaha.