Hall of Fame

Over the past 52 years, countless people have contributed to the success and growth of the Houston Marathon, from industry and community leaders to humanitarians, athletes and volunteers. To recognize these individuals for their dedication and service to this great event and the sport of running, the Houston Marathon Committee established the Houston Marathon Hall of Fame in 2007.

For more than a decade, Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite and Sergeant Mark Bailey of the Houston Police Department, have played significant leadership roles in the planning and execution of the world-class Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

“Their collective commitment, dedication, passion, and support of everyone and every element of this race for the people and the city is truly astounding,” stated HMC Executive Director Wade Morehead. “From course planning, staffing, and road closures to the collaboration of all City of Houston public safety agencies, Larry and Mark habitually and selflessly exceed expectations.  I cannot overstate how much they mean to the annual success of our events; we are truly fortunate and grateful to work with them both.”

The HMC HOF was created in 2007 to recognize committee members, civic partners, running community leaders, and stakeholders who have transcended traditional roles by consistently dedicating their time and talents to ensure the growth and success of the HMC and its annual hallmark events over its 52-year history.

Both HPD Officers have made a positive impact on this organization and the community it serves.  Following are brief bios for both 2024 HMC Hall of Fame inductees:

Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite, Houston Police Department

• In 1990, joined HPD and was assigned to his first Houston Marathon posted at intersections in the West University area.
• Has served 33 years in law enforcement for the City of Houston in the following roles: Patrol, Investigations, SWAT, Criminal Intelligence, Special Operations, and Homeland Security.
• Promoted to Captain of Special Operations in 2013, Chief Satterwhite has led HPD for 9 Houston Marathons.
• Oversaw the safety and management of Super Bowl 51 and 4 World Series.

Sergeant Mark Bailey, Houston Police Department

• In 1989, joined the Houston Police Department and in 1994, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Special Operations Division working his first Houston Marathon.
• In 2004, mentor Sergeant Tommy Bennett retired leading to Bailey’s new role of HPD Special Events Coordinator, and he took over the task of making street closure assignments and assigning officers their place to work to provide a safe racecourse.
• After years of watching people cross the finish line in downtown Houston, Sergeant Bailey made the decision to run the Chevron Houston Marathon. Bailey described finishing the marathon as “one of my most favorite accomplishments ever, and it was during this time of struggling and training where I learned what the Houston Marathon meant.”
• His enshrinement into the HMC HOF this year coincides with his 30^th consecutive Houston Marathon.

Alton Milrany was born and raised in Plano, Texas where he enjoyed playing all sports. After graduating from SMU, he moved to Houston to work for Tenneco and following his retirement, Alton dedicated his time and expertise to help local nonprofits.

Alton started as a volunteer and joined the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) Board of Directors in the early 2000’s, serving as Treasurer until 2005.  After a brief stint with the MS Society, Alton returned to the HMC. In April 2007 he was named as the HMC Executive Director and served in that position until 2010.  During that time, Alton led the nation-wide search for the HMC’s first full-time Executive Director.  Alton was then voted by the HMC BOD to serve as a member of the HMC Executive Committee and held the Officer position as Board Secretary.  A selfless leader with an affinity for philanthropic endeavors, Alton was a staunch supporter of the growth and impact of the HMC’s Run for a Reason Charity program (RFAR) which provides a platform for over 60 charities to fundraise annually for a wide variety of impactful causes.  His vision and passion for the RFAR program played a significant role in its growth.  The inception of the RFAR program was in 1995 and the program generated nearly $10M in its first 15 years, but since 2010 the RFAR program has raised over $25M and will cross the $35M plateau in 2023.

In 2007, Alton was a Founding Member of the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF), which was created as the philanthropic arm of the Houston Marathon and designed to have a legacy impact on the Houston community by promoting the health and wellness benefits of long-distance running.  He served on the HMF BOD for over 10 years.  Today, the HMF has awarded $240,000 in scholarships to local cross-country runners, and the We Run Houston after-school running program has provided training support, equipment, and race entries to 3,869 students in the Greater Houston Region.  Additionally, the HMF has promoted a hands-only CPR awareness campaign, hosted numerous Family Fun Runs for new runners, and financially supported the training for U.S. professional long-distance runners.

Alton’s passion for philanthropic work in the community and the time he gave to volunteer for the HMC directly contributed to its growth, success, and community impact. He always said he would do anything for the Houston Marathon, as long as he did not have to run.

Alton passed away in September of 2020, but his contribution to the HMC will live on forever.

Originally from Alton, Illinois, David and Kate Chester relocated to Katy, Texas in 1986 along with their family, led by David’s job at Shell Oil. In 1999, they found their way to Houston.  David has been a runner since 1977, ran his first of 30 marathons in 1978, and ran the Houston Marathon from 1987 through 1992.  In 1993, David started volunteering in various roles for the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) when his close friend, current board member Madeline Bunch, convinced Kate and David to assist with the Elite Athlete Committee which they did together for 20 years.

In 1996, Paul Bunch, Bill Anthony and David were asked to handle all Elite Athlete invitations and were responsible for building a competitive field of world-class runners for the event each year. Kate worked with Madeline to handle the logistics (entering data, scheduling meals and hotels, and other administrative items).

After a couple of years, David started working as the Elite Athlete Coordinator, and he owned this enormous responsibility until after the 2012 U.S.A. Olympic Trials men’s and women’s marathon. One of their goals after the turn of the century was to recruit a runner who could break the men’s course record, and after falling short on several attempts, Deriba Merga ran a 2:07:52 in 2009 moving Houston up the ranks of elite U.S. marathons. In 2012, a day after the Olympic Trials, David comprised a field of world class men and women runners for the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon that led to all four course records falling, culminating in an amazing weekend for the sport and the Houston running community.  Following this monumental weekend, David retired and mentored Erin Forssman, who took over the elite program, and was assisted by Kate, who continued working with the Elite Committee for a few more years.

David was also one of the Founding Members of the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF) in 2007 and served as Treasurer on the HMF Board of Directors for 10 years.

Kate and David enjoyed working with the HMC and all the great people who make the Houston Marathon what it has become over the years. David is honored that he and Kate will be in the Hall of Fame, but saddened that Kate, who passed away in February of 2019 will not be able to share this honor together.

Through her dynamic leadership of more than 34 years, Susan Christian developed the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and has driven the city’s commitment to, and celebration of quality civic events – including the Houston Marathon Weekend of Events – showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Houston. “Each year, I’m reminded of the sheer joy that I see on the runner’s faces as they pass by the start line, the exuberance of their step and determination to get to the finish line,” said Christian. “And at the finish line, I see on the runner’s faces both agony and ecstasy of completing a goal. It’s truly remarkable”

Throughout most of her tenure at the City of Houston, Christian has worked alongside Houston Marathon staff and volunteers to design various course routes and facilitates permitting and other support services for the event annually. “Susan’s role in our event is one that isn’t always outwardly visible to our participants but is essential to our operations,” said Houston Marathon Committee Executive Director, Wade Morehead. “The event truly would not be possible without her and her team’s collaborative efforts throughout the year.”

In addition to partnering with the Houston Marathon Committee, Christian is also responsible for the city’s year-round Civic Celebration Program in which, her office produces, sponsors, and permits over 2,000 event-days, with more than 10 million people in attendance annually. Christian credits the success of her office to like-minded individuals and organizations who share the belief that partnerships are fundamental to growth and sustainability.

 A native Texan, Dan Green graduated from Pearland High School and went on to attend the University of Houston (U of H) where he participated in cross country and track. It was at U of H where Green met distance running coach Al Lawrence, 2017 Houston Marathon Hall of Fame inductee. Over the course of the next 20 years, Lawrence made a significant impact on Green, including coaching him to become the first winner of the Houston Marathon in 1972. Under Lawrence’s guidance, Green went on to win countless titles including every Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Gulf Championship race distance.

“I am flattered and humbled to be inducted into the Houston Marathon Hall of Fame. To follow in the footsteps of the great Al Lawrence into the Hall of Fame is beyond my comprehension. Words cannot describe how I feel,” said Green on his induction.

Green has dedicated more than 48 years of his life to Houston running through racing, coaching and building running clubs and communities. He is the Coach and founder of Team Green Running, where he has trained top athletes such as Wilkerson Given, the 2018 men’s top American finisher at the Chevron Houston Marathon. He is also currently coaching an Olympic Development Group, a master’s group, a youth track and cross-country group, a mother’s group, and a beginner’s running group.

“Dan has been a fixture on the Houston running scene for almost a half-century, beginning with his victory in our very first race, continuing through his stewardship of the very successful Woodlands High School cross country and track and field program, and now culminating with his management of Team Green. The Houston running community is the richer for Dan’s many contributions,” said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director and Board President Brant Kotch. “It is an honor for us to recognize and celebrate his achievements through this induction.”

Tom Koch’s love of the marathon developed from one of his first reporting assignments as a Houston local, the 1983 Houston Marathon. Having never run much more than five miles himself, he stood at the finish line and felt the energy and excitement of the runners and the crowd, and thought, “someday I’m going to do this.” Fast forward to 2001, Koch began reporting for the Houston Marathon annually and had added “Marathon Finisher” to his resume as well. Then in 2004 Koch’s passion for and knowledge of running culminated with his dream assignment as the official anchor of the Houston Marathon live broadcast.

“Tom Koch has been the voice of the race for KTRK-13 since the 2004 live broadcast, and 2018 will be his 15th consecutive event as anchor of the Houston Marathon. His status as a runner is evident and greatly informs his commentary. Over the last 17 years, he has served as emcee of a multitude of HMC events, always imparting that special runner’s perspective,” said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director and Board President Brant Kotch. “The tremendous growth of the Houston Marathon weekend of events parallels Tom’s involvement, and we could not be prouder to recognize him for his notable contributions.”

“I love the event, the atmosphere, the excitement, the dedication and the involvement of the city,” said Koch. “I’m stunned and humbled by my induction into the Hall of Fame. I never dreamed I’d be honored for just doing my job and having fun. There are so many who work tirelessly all year to make this a possibility, and I’ll accept this honor on their behalf and with them in mind.”

A long-time Houston resident, Allen “Yogi” Jogerst was affectionately known in the running community as the “Mayor of the Park.” He knew all the regulars at Memorial Park and everyone knew him from his daily pre-dawn runs, training for marathons and simply embracing the sheer joy of running. It was Yogi’s dedication to the running community combined with his passion for civic engagement that paved the way for his volunteerism with the Houston Marathon at its inception in 1972. In his 45 years of Houston Marathon tenure, he participated in nearly every aspect of the race, helping to shape the event into what it is today.

“Yogi was the “essential man” of the marathon for as long as there has been a marathon. Whether he was shadowing Race Director David Hannah through the race’s formative years, serving on the Marathon’s Board of Directors, or helping grow the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF), the HMC and the HMF were always foremost in Yogi’s mind,” said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director and Board President Brant Kotch. “The “Mayor of Memorial Park” will be truly missed, and I cannot think of a more appropriate honor to preserve his memory than to induct him into the Hall of Fame.

The HMC is grateful they could share the news of his induction with Yogi before his passing. “It meant a great deal to him to be honored, but in his typical fashion he was always very quiet about things like this,” said Yogi’s daughter, Caroline Jogerst Sabin. “He was the type of man who gained more from doing the work, seeing that things were done right, and the camaraderie of working with others who felt the way he did, than he did from any reward or recognition.” Yogi will be remembered as someone who was always willing to help the organization overcome any obstacle, big or small and his contributions will be missed.

Al Lawrence was a staple in the Houston running community for more than 4o years. Known for his ability to foster competitive and recreational running among his athletes, as well as within the local Houston community, Lawrence’s passion and knowledge for the sport was evident until his passing at the age of 86 from Pancreatic Cancer.

Al arrived in Houston in 1958 and joined the University of Houston’s track team, where he won the NCAA and AAU cross country national championships in 1959 and 1960. He set two world records six days apart, for the indoor 2-mile and 3-mile and competed for Australia in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon – winning a bronze medal in the 10,000m in 1956. In the early 1970s, Lawrence began coaching local elite and novice runners. Since its inception in 1972, hundreds of Lawrence’s runners have finished the Houston Marathon, including the inaugural champion, Danny Green. After years on the sidelines as a coach, Lawrence decided to launch a competitive comeback and entered the Houston Marathon for the first time in 1978. He finished the race in 2:45:32. He then went on to run the race six more times and in 1981 won the U.S. Athletics Congress’ “Outstanding Athlete Award” for his 50-59 age group and was capable of posting a sub-2:40 time.

Al’s induction into the Hall of Fame represents a new category of contributors to our race – running coaches, those who advise, mentor and train our runners.  Given the number of runners he’s coached and their far greater number of total finishes, no coach has contributed more to the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Susan Poorman Blackie was a long-time Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) Board Member and a founding member of the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF). She embodied the generosity and volunteer spirit which exemplifies the community of people who make the event possible each year. Susan was responsible for venue operations at the George R. Brown Convention Center from 1998-2006 and was instrumental in organizing Trials Town and the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She was an HMC Board member from 2004 to 2013. In 2007, Susan established the HMF with current President Maddie Bunch, Treasurer David Chester and Medical Director Dr. John Cianca.

Susan passed away on July 4, 2014 at the age of 64 and is survived by her husband Gary Blackie, son Buck Dodson and daughter Mindy White. She will be greatly missed but her legacy will continue on with the creation of an annual college scholarship in her name.

CARL MOERER‘s association with the Houston Marathon Committee began in 1980 and over 35 years of volunteering, he only missed one race. Moerer spent the duration of his time on the Course Committee, beginning back when the Houston Marathon was a two-loop course at Memorial Park and was involved in every course re-design in the ensuing years.

From 1987 through 1991, Moerer was the Course Director and instrumental in the 1985 route redesign, which led to the first city-wide 26.2 mile course in the history of the Houston Marathon. Moerer, a partner at Tate Moerer & King, L.L.P., was also a member of the Houston Local Organizing Committee responsible for hosting the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for the men’s and women’s marathon.

DENNY MORSE’s association with the Houston Marathon Committee began back in 1980. He originally moved to Houston in 1972 and after a few years here, a friend asked him to go for a run at Memorial Park. Several years after that, Morse ran his first marathon. That was the start of his running career that would lead him to the Houston Marathon Committee. Morse started out working with the results team, a position that evolved into the Official Scorer over the years. Morse was also a member of the Board of Directors during his entire tenure with the Houston Marathon Committee and has been involved in the selection process for the HMC Hall of Fame since its inception in 2007.

BOB EURY‘s commitment to the Houston Marathon began almost 30 years ago when he ran his first marathon in 1984. Since then, he has run 29 consecutive races in Houston, making the 2013 edition of the Houston Marathon his 30th-consecutive run at this event. He currently serves as the President of Central Houston, Inc. and is the Executive Director of the Downtown Management District. Eury recently served as volunteer Chairman of the Houston Host Committee comprised of civic leaders.Under his guidance, Houston became the first city to host both the men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Marathon on the same course at the same time.

MONTIE GRIMES association with the Houston Marathon Committee began 24 years ago in when he volunteered to help Wayne Long, the start line committee chair, with the start of the 1988 Houston-Tenneco Marathon. Two years later, Grimes became one of Wayne’s start line captains, and by 1991, he had succeeded Wayne to become the start line committee chair. Grimes drafted the first start line timetable and event scripts, which provided exact initiation times for all start line activities. This was the first time that all committee and volunteer watches were synchronized and all activities were timed prior to the race
start. This improved the on-time start record for the race. The start line scripts are still used in a much-expanded form to this day and are one of the principal reasons the Houston Marathon is renowned for its organization.

Grimes’ organizational skills were too useful to be confined to the start line, and he began managing the finish line in 2001, where he recruited a number of finish line committee members who remain in place today. The following year, he moved to the pace vehicle committee.

Grimes also served as a member of the Board of Directors for eight years, from 1997 to 2005. During his time on the board, he was a key contributor to the race’s rapid growth. Grimes is still active today, providing advisory input whenever he is asked.

PAT HOGAN-KORGE first became involved with the Houston Marathon in 1995 when she learned about the Run for a Reason charity program. She viewed it as a great fit for the organization, CanCare, whose message of hope for cancer patients and their families was something dear to her heart. Pat was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 1983, and although she has not been able to run since then, she was determined to find a way to get involved in the charity program. Pat created CanCare’s first running group, “Team CanCare,” which has been running strong ever since. Some runners have even been on the team since its inception.

The project’s first year was a great success – many CanCare volunteers, family members and friends of others’ affected by cancer, and cancer survivors, including Anne Turnage, the founder of CanCare, Nancy Tucker, then the executive director (and now president) of CanCare, ran on “Team CanCare” to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit organization.

For the past 15 years, Pat has spent her Saturdays during marathon training season speaking to running groups in the Greater Houston area about CanCare. The CanCare staff calls this “Pat’s card table ministry” because at each speaking event, she lays out her old and worn out card table. Some days, traveling across the city can be overwhelming, but Pat is always reminded of why she is there when she encounters the families who are constantly battling this horrible disease.

Inspired by another Team CanCare runner, Pat trained and walked her first marathon in 1999, which is one of Pat’s greatest accomplishments. Her husband Bill would always say that she was crazy for her frequent 5 a.m. Saturday training runs, but eventually caught the “marathon fever” himself. He subsequently completed two Houston Marathons before he passed away in 2002.

Pat remains an avid walker and usually participants in a half marathon each year in another city so she can enjoy being a part of the CanCare Hoopla station on race day. She is known for wearing the team’s traditional big, yellow, foam hair. She has completed half marathons in Tucson, Phoenix, Disneyworld, San Antonio and New Orleans.

Over the years, Team CanCare has raised more than $750,000 and has set a fundraising goal of $100,000 for 2011.

GEORGE KLEEMAN is the second of only four Houston Marathon race directors, serving from 1976 through 1980. George’s leadership, technical savvy, high-energy and can-do attitude were critical during those early years. During his tenure, George deftly took the marathon from an inside-Memorial-Park road race to a much larger start-and-finish-in-downtown extravaganza. In 1979, George successfully managed the National Marathon Championship for men and women as a part of the Houston Marathon.

After departing Houston in 1980 to accept an assignment with Shell, George expanded his involvement in long-distance running, race walking and track-and-field officiating. He served on or chaired no less than 27 regional and national committees of the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), TAC (The Athletics Congress) and USATF (USA Track and Field). When asked about his most significant committee assignment, he responded: “That’s easy! I was the Regional VP of the National Women’s Long-Distance Running Committee from 1978 through 1984 when women’s long-distance running was really taking hold. I am really proud of some of the things we accomplished.”

George continues to serve on the National USATF Rules Committee. Each year, George works 50-60 days of track meets at all levels (regional to international) and has travelled around the world in doing so. George was one of only three certified International Technical Officials from the USA and 39 such officials world-wide from 2001-2009 and he chaired USATF’s IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations)Technical Officials group from 2000-2004.

George was also an athlete, having competed in twenty-plus marathons and three ultra-marathons (winning one). He was a member of the USA team that competed in the 1979 London-to-Brighton 54-mile race.

George Kleeman is a rare gem. He was vital to the Houston Marathon’s growth and he continues to make huge contributions to the sport. This is evidenced by his numerous regional and national awards, including having been inducted into the USAT&F Officials Hall of Fame.

SANDRA GRIMES began volunteering for the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. in 1989 selling merchandise in the tunnel system downtown while working at Tenneco (then sponsor of the Houston Marathon). Over the next few years, Sandra’s marathon responsibilities expanded greatly, and for more than a dozen years, she chaired subcommittees overseeing the design, purchase, retails sales and distribution of all Houston Marathon merchandise.

Each February, Sandra worked on the design for the next year’s marathon merchandise. She designed and ordered volunteers, runner, committee, charity and retail merchandise, finisher’s medals and awards, and any other merchandise items needed by the marathon. On race weekend, Sandra worked 14 to 16 hours a day managing the retail sales and the runners’ merchandise areas.

In 2001, Sandra was elected to the Committee’s Board of Directors. She served as Secretary to the Board from 2002 until her retirement from the Committee in 2006.

ROB MOCK has been a triple-threat volunteer for the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. He first volunteered in 1989 and starting the Wednesday before race day, Rob Mock quickly became the “go-to-guy” of the Houston Marathon. As an integral part of race preparation, Rob served as Race Course Director in 1997, Course Equipment Director in 1998 and George R. Brown Director from 1998-2003.

Each day leading up to the race, Rob supervised workers and construction, directed the hoards of delivery trucks, managed the installation of the plumbing and electricity, paid bills and arranged permits. He also organized volunteers and answered questions, positioned EXPO vendors and helped to assemble the Texas Children’s Hospital Kids’ Fun Run the morning of the marathon. Similarly, Rob continued to be an active member of the Board of Directors and was the Vice President until his retirement from the board in 2003.

GLORIA and HARRY MCLEOD have worked, and sometimes both run and worked, all 36 Houston marathons. No one can beat that. In 1972, Gloria and Harry opened about 300 boxes of beef stew to serve runners and volunteers after finishing the race. And not to mention, Harry ran that marathon before helping with the kitchen chores. In years following, Gloria also ran the marathon while continuing her kitchen duties until the marathon left Memorial Park for downtown. After that, she and Harry were at the finish line, Harry on the microphone and Gloria looking up numbers and names. Later, they helped Fred Duckett, who took over the announcing job. In 1997, when the temperature was freezing and the finish line stage iced over, Gloria said, “That’s it, Harry, we’re getting an inside job.” Since that time, Harry has passed away (2000), but Gloria continues to be involved and works with volunteers serving coffee and snacks to marathon volunteers. Quite a record!

CY STRONG began his tenure with the Houston Marathon Committee more than 25 years ago. His commitment first began when he co-chaired registration with his wife Diane for more than three years, which then lead to chairing the invited athlete program and serving as course co-chairman, each for three years. Cy also served as the Board of Directors for more than 25 years.

Passionate and committed to whatever he sets out to accomplish, Cy is best known for being an initiator, first initiating the Houston Marathon’s “Run for a Reason” charity program and serving as chairman for three years. Together with Maddie Bunch (Board of Directors), they developed the concept of the half marathon, and Cy, along with other members of the running community, developed the 5K race.

As Treasurer of the board, he helped to establish a fiscal model of commitment which the board adhereds to this day. Alongside his successful Houston Marathon activities, he completed 25 marathons across the country, including the Houston Marathon as well as others.

AUSTIN O’TOOLE joined the Houston Marathon Board of Directors in 1979, when George Kleeman was the race director. During his time on the board, Austin’s responsibilities included runner registration and oversight of the EXPO. He also represented the board as attorney, beginning with the negotiations that led to Methodist Hospital becoming the Houston Marathon’s title sponsor in 1997. He established the Veterans’ Committee in 1985 to honor all runners who have finished 10 or more Houston Marathons. Every year, Austin brings his collection of Houston Marathon t-shirts from prior years to display at the Veterans’ Booth at the EXPO.

MARIA CAMACHO‘s resident assistant at her dorm at Purdue told her that running 1 mile would burn off a small soft-serve ice cream cone. Maria began running that week in order to continue enjoying soft serve ice cream, and has been running ever since. Maria and her husband, Jesse, ran their first Houston Marathon in 1983, and have both run the race every year since. The couple holds the 2nd-longest streak of any husband and wife team, and Maria is tied for the most Houston Marathons run by a female. Maria’s fastest Houston Marathon finish came in 1987, when she ran a 3:03.

PETE LEAGUE was the Houston Marathon’s first race director. He was transferred from the Bay Area to Houston for his job with Shell in 1971 and quickly became involved in the Houston running scene. In 1972, he decided that Houston needed a marathon. There were 138 runners who toed the line on that day in December 1972 for a five-loop tour of Memorial Park. Pete directed the first three Houston Marathons, and in April 1975 he went on to found another local fixture, the Bayou City Fun Run. Pete now lives in Austin and comes over every year to help out with the Houston Marathon.

DAVID HANNAH was the race director of the Houston Marathon from 1980 to 2002. This was a time of tremendous growth for the Houston Marathon: the race hosted about 700 runners in 1980, and almost 10,000 ran in 2002. During this period of time, David also oversaw negotiations that led to the race’s first three title sponsors: Tenneco Inc., Methodist Health Care System, and Compaq Computer Company. In 1982, under David’s direction, Houston became only the 6th race in the nation to offer a prize purse, at the time given in the form of a trust in the winner’s name in order to preserve the runners’ amateur status. Every one of those first five races no longer exists, and Houston is thus the oldest race in the country to offer prize money.

JAMES KETELSEN was CEO of Tenneco, Inc. from 1978 to 1991. Under his leadership, Tenneco became the title sponsor of the Houston Marathon in 1979, a position that Tenneco would hold for 17 years. At the time, Tenneco was one of the top 20 corporations in the country, and there was virtually no significant corporate sponsorship of road races. Those 17 years saw the explosive growth of the race – the watershed moment was the introduction of prize money for the 1982 race. James was also one of the pioneers of corporate fitness, and it was on his watch that Tenneco opened its Employee Fitness Center. He also started a foundation called Project GRAD, which promotes education for inner-city children. When James left Tenneco in 1991, he went to work for the foundation full-time, where he works to this day.

TOM and MARY ANNE MCBRAYER were at the first Houston Marathon in 1972. It was the McBrayers’ station wagon that marked the turnaround point on the five-loop marathon course. They both ran in the event back in those years, and Mary Anne was twice the female masters winner of the race. They have done everything imaginable as volunteers for the event. Mary Anne served as secretary of the committee, organized all volunteers and oversaw the convention center on race day. Tom ran the finish line and kept track of all marathon equipment over the years, and personally began measuring the Houston Marathon course in 1984. They both served on the Board of Directors, and are still active in the running scene at the local and national level through USATF, the Houston Masters running club, and the marathon warm-up series.

JACK LIPPINCOTT ran his first Houston Marathon in 1975 and hasn’t missed one since. His 32 consecutive Houston Marathons to date give him the longest streak in Houston Marathon history. Jack is one of the only current runners who could give you a first-hand account of the early marathon routes in Memorial Park and the evolution of the race from a small, local affair to one of the nation’s premier road races. In addition to running, Jack is in charge of the Houston Marathon Veterans Committee and keeps track of each and every participant who has ten or more finishes at the Houston Marathon.