00:00:11.000 - 00:05:24.000

Camera Crew Member #1:: OK. Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, Bill Miles Productions; Sound roll one, camera roll one. Joe Yancey. Interviewer:: Joseph Yancey, you were the co-founder and organizer of the famed Pioneer Track Club in New York in 1936. I wonder if you'd tell us about the beginnings of that organization. Joe Yancey:: I'd be happy to, Clayton. As you said, the New York Pioneer Club was organized in 1936, and there were two other co-founders, Bob Douglas, the owner, manager of the famous New York Renaissance basketball team. They were the world professional champions; and Bill Culbreath. Bill Culbreath w-was a member of the NYU training staff, and when we started we were a club of minority athletes. That, that is, a club of athletes of color only. But of course it, even at that time I coached everyone. In 1942-up to 1942, the club was, as I said before, composed of one ethnic background. In November of 1941 we got together and said this is not the way it should be. The constitution was changed and it, it read as follows, that the New York Pioneer Club shall be composed of athletes regardless of race, color or creed or national origin. And from that time, we became a United Nations organization. In fact we were the, we spearheaded the interracial movement in sports. This was about four or five years before Jackie Robinson entered the big leagues. And when we organized the club, we had a vision, a projection. At that time, minority a-minority athletes were not into swimming or into fencing and gymnastics and-on the Olympic level or even the international level; and we wanted to do something about that, because there was no facilities for that, those types of sport. But as you know now, after 48 years, we only have been able to field a track and field team. And that's the history of the New York Pioneer Club to date; and as you mentioned, I'm still c-in my same capacity as director, coach, of the org-and head coach, and I'm into my fifty-second year of coaching. [[slate]] Interviewer:: Where did the club meet? Where, where did you- Joe Yancey:: Well, we had our, [clears throat] in, during the summer, the spring and summer, we met at Macombs Dam Park; that's 161st Street and River Avenue. And of course during the winter, right here in this armory at a hundred-369th Regiment Armory, and we've been here all that time. This has been our winter headquarters, right here in this armory. Interviewer:: Would you talk about some of the athletes who were part of the first Pioneer Club? Joe Yancey:: Well let's see, the, some of the first athletes. Well, Ed Greenwich, Rudy Ned [sic] , Warren Bright, Saul McCann, Stafford Thomas-Thompson, Reggie Pearman, Hugo, Reggie Pearman-it was Dr. Pearman now. It's hard to remember them all when you, when you want to. Herbert Thompson [sic] was our first champion. Theotis and Bill Taylor came over from Long Island-I mean, from New Jersey, rather. And then our f-first field man was Harry Schneider [sic] and then later we had Bernie Mayer, Irving Kintis, Stan Lampert, Ben Schumman [sic] ; and there's so many, actually, Clayton; I, I really can't remember. [laughs] I should but we've had so many fine athletes that came through the New York Pioneer Club; and I've left out so many it, it's difficult to really remember them all. [[sic]] [[sic]] [[sic]] [[sic]] Interviewer:: Did you feel at the beginning that you were approaching track and field in a special way, with the coaching methods that you were using that you felt were somewhat different? Joe Yancey:: Rather definitely. I approach track and field as a teacher, because in the Pioneer Club, first off, you had to be a gentleman. Discipline, punctuality, and a understanding of the traditions from which the New York Pioneer Club was formed. In the New York Pioneer Club, there was no profanity; you had to act like a gentleman at all times, on and off the track. That was very important; and you have to maintain integrity; and I can say that, since 1936, the Pioneer Club has been fortunate, and I have been fortunate to, to have been associated with so many fine gentlemen who came through the, the, the doors of the New York Pioneer Club.

00:05:25.000 - 00:07:56.000

Interviewer:: How did you get these young men to, to join the club? Did you go to [unintelligible] - Joe Yancey:: They came, no, they came from the five burroughs in, of New York and from Hudson County, New Jersey; and as far north, and even the, the outlin-outlying counties; Orange County, Dutchess County, they came down to the New York Pioneer Club because our fame had spread. And they knew it was a club that accepted anyone who was of good character and just had a desire to run. You didn't have to be a champion. Just the desire that you wanted to run. Interviewer:: Now as far as the, the champions you, you were associated with, then and over the years, what kind of qualities, what kind of special qualities were you looking for in preparing someone- Joe Yancey:: [coughs] Interviewer:: -for that level of competition? Joe Yancey:: Well actually, I mean, in preparing a champion, I mean, actually they themselves, I mean, had been developed to that level and at that time they had the dedication, they had the confidence, and they had the staying power to become a champion. And of course they made great sacrifices to reach that level. And it was important that they make the Olympic team, or make trips to the national championship; and they trained hard, and they gave up a lot. They gave up going to parties and doing things that other individuals in their neighborhood and areas were doing and, and they made a lot of sacrifices, and as I said before they worked hard; they worked rather hard; and they were devoted to what they were doing. They were devoted to track and field. Interviewer:: Did you feel as a coach that you could see fairly early on, a championship caliber athlete? Joe Yancey:: Yes, there's no question about it. You can see it, the moment they walk on the track, you can see it. You can see it with the naked eye. Yes, God gave me that gift. In fact, I still have it. [laughs] Interviewer:: What kinds of things would you see? What would you [unintelligible] - Joe Yancey:: Well, I mean in their carriage, the way they walked; the way they jog; the way they they warm up; the way they do their exercise. There's just something-it's, it's an intangible situation that, it, you just could see it in them. I mean, a certain bounce, a certain movement; it's there. And, and the way they go about it; their, their intensity. And their confidence, all that sort of thing is important. It's-so many interesting situations that go into, knowing that the person is on the, is going to move upward in track and field.

00:07:57.000 - 00:11:02.000

Interviewer:: Is there really such as thing as natural ability? Joe Yancey:: Oh yes, oh yes, definitely. I mean, some chaps have natural talent, and sometime it's wasted. Sometime it's wasted and sometime it's developed. Interviewer:: How is it wasted? Joe Yancey:: Well, they don't continue. Interviewer:: Oh, they don't work hard enough? Joe Yancey:: Well, they just don't continue. They give up track and field for other endeavors. Interviewer:: There are also some people who lack natural ability who may be able to make up for that. Joe Yancey:: That's true. Very true indeed. I've, I've known individuals who had, let's say fifty percent talent who developed a ninety to a hundred percent talent by hard work, hard work and dedication. Yes, quite. Interviewer:: You have trained athletes, and coached athletes, all over the world. Joe Yancey:: Y-yes, I've had that experience. Interviewer:: Are there particular kinds of programs you see being instituted in other countries that can raise the level of the, their competitiveness in a period of time? How, how would you go about that? Someone says, come to our country and develop our team. We have five years to do that. What kind of things would you tell them they have to do? What kind of things would you need? Joe Yancey:: Well, I mean, it's according to what part of the world you're going to visit. Now, if you visit Central or South America and endeavor to set up a program, of course, you have difficult, difficulty around the because the athletes they are more interested in politics than sports. If you go to Europe at this stage of the game, they're already developed. They already have excellent programs, excellent coaching. So it's not the same now. But in the beginning when I first started traveling in 1948, it was a different story. And we did do a lot, going to Europe, Asia, Africa, to set up programs, and that was done. My first trip a-abroad was in 1949 going to Cuba, and I set up a program there. And from there I went to many other countries and I set up training, training schedules and all that sort of thing for them to follow. Now after I left it was up to the coaches and the teachers of physical education to follow through on that. When I visit other undeveloped countries I, I lectured to teachers of physical education and I lectured on all events of track and field; and I demonstrated those events. Just a little aside, some years ago during the fifties, I was doing a, a, a stint in Haiti, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti- Joe Yancey:: -for the United States State Department; and Mrs. Yancey was with me and [laughs] she was a little surprised one day because someone asked would I give her the-no- Camera Crew Member #1:: [unintelligible] Joe Yancey:: Beg pardon? Interviewer:: We have to change- Joe Yancey:: Oh, sorry [laughs] . [[rollout on camera roll]] [[wild sound]] [[cut]] [[camera roll #2]]

00:11:03.000 - 00:15:27.000

Production crew member #2:: Champions, sound two. Interviewer:: You were talking before about a period in the nineteen fifties, you said you had a story. Joe Yancey:: Oh, yeah, it's just a bit of an aside. I was doing a program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, under the sponsorship of the United States State Department cultural exchange program, and I was lecturing and holding a clinic before the teachers of physical education of that country and someone asked me to demonstrate the pole vault [laughs] so I took the pole and I vaulted over about eight feet and my wife looked at me in amazement. And then someone said, Will you kindly demonstrate the long jump, so I did that, and my wife is really surprised. She said, Gee whiz, Joe, I didn't know you could do these things at your age. I said, Well, you know, they ask me in these countries, chaps come up to me and say, Coach, can you still run? And I said yes, I can still run, if I'm sufficiently urged. [laughs] [[slate]] Interviewer:: When you, when you visit these other countries, and institute a program for them, or advise their coaches, what, what role do you feel conditioning plays? Is that the center of, of preparation, or is that the actual physical conditioning of the athlete- Joe Yancey:: That's the basics; that's the basic. Interviewer:: Could you talk a little about that a little bit? Joe Yancey:: Yes, of course. I mean generally I, I talk about conditioning because no training should take place until after, until after a conditioning period. Generally a, a period of cross country and calisthenics before you enter into a training program and then after that then you can start going through your schedules, your training schedules, definitely. Interviewer:: Would you tell us about some of the techniques, perhaps, that you, you give to athletes? Are, are they a particular styles that you, that you assign to particular athletes, or- Joe Yancey:: Well, it's according to the individual as, as I mentioned before. I don't believe in generalizing my coaching. I mean, some, some athletes require more work than others. [coughs] L-let's assume [coughs] that I'm training a, a quarter-miler. Now, some quarter-milers; I've had had quarter-milers throughout my career who never run over three hundred and fifty. And then I've had quarter-and they are the sprinter quarter-milers. And then I've had quarter-milers who are half-mile type quarter-milers. And they run six-sixties; six-sixties and sometimes thousands, so it's according to the individuals. And once again I say that, and you, you tailor a program to fit the individual. So it's hard to generalize a situation like that. But there is always an outline that you can follow. In, in, in two-twenty, you say to a, a quarter-miler-I'm using a quarter-mile as an example because that's an easy event to, to talk about. You say, run twelve in and out two twenties. Well, some individuals can get the same out of running six in-and-out two-twenties, or the same can be said about running ten in-and-out quarters. You run eight, or six, according to the individual. And according to the degree of his training, how far he's, he's gone. See, you don't want over-training. Interviewer:: What is the matter of over-training about? Does that mean that an athlete has trained past the point where his body is going to be in peak condition? Joe Yancey:: Well, he loses his sharpness. He loses his sharpness, exactly. He loses his sharpness. I mean, a, a good, a good case in point, a good example of that, is [coughs] Ray Norton in 196-, in the 1960s, just prior to the nineteen sixty Olympics in Rome. Prior to that, Ray Norton, who was a great sprinter, and a great fellow, he won just about all his races, and won in fine style. No one could touch him. And then, of course, if you remember, he didn't do very well in the Olympics. Didn't d- [[rollout on sound roll]] [[cut]] [[sound roll #2]]

00:15:28.000 - 00:18:25.000

Camera Crew Member #1:: Mark. Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, Miles Films Prom-Productions, sound roll two, camera roll two, sound three. Interviewer:: You were telling us a story about Ray Norton. Joe Yancey:: Yes, Ray Norton was an excellent example of an athlete who had reached his peak and started down the downside. He reached that plateau and then he started down, downhill. In 1960, during that running season, outdoor season, Ray Norton was unbeatable. Unbeatable. But during the Olympics he didn't do well at all, because he had run most of his races, his best races, prior to the Olympics, and he had reached his peak in the Olympic [car horn] trials. And after that, all his races from there on in were downhill. That's, I think, is a good example of being, going downhill; in other words, after he'd run his races prior to the Olympics. [[slate]] [[car horn]] Interviewer:: This is something, I suppose, that falls into the hands of, of a coach. A coach has to be aware of when an athlete- Joe Yancey:: Well, a coach and the individual himself, between the two, but I mean no one, not even the coach can determine, as well as the individual himself can tell. I mean, you have to more or less gauge a situation as you go along. And today, I mean, an athlete will stay out a few meets in order to point the only certain meets in order that he would not overtrain himself and make himself get too sharp too soon, as the expression-that's the expression that the athletes use, too sharp too soon. Interviewer:: How important-what role does an athlete's diet, in your opinion, play in his training? Joe Yancey:: Very important, very important. I believe in a, in a, in a balanced diet. Other than that, I say to my athletes, eat anything in moderation. Just don't overdo it. Because there's no use telling them don't eat this and don't eat that because they're gonna eat it anyhow. Just tell them to eat in moderation. Interviewer:: What about vitamins; I mean supplements- Joe Yancey:: Vitamin therapy is excellent. Interviewer:: How, how do you recommend to a runner? Let's say you had a really fine sprinter who didn't really know about his vitamin intake in his diet. What would you, what would you propose to him? Joe Yancey:: Well, I'd give him a multivitamins, multivitamins, and Vitamin B-Complex and things like that. I mean, and then I actually would send him to a doctor. We have a doctor on our staff, or many doctors who are interested in the Pioneer Club and I would ask them, for this particular athlete, what would you suggest? I would not try to be a doctor myself to that extet-extent; or talk to someone who was a dietitian and and speak to them about this individual. Because first I'd find out what type of food that he indulges in.

00:18:26.000 - 00:27:33.000

Interviewer:: The Pioneer Club has a staff-maybe you could talk about how many people are involved? Joe Yancey:: Well we did have a staff, and I'd like to talk about that, because in the past the Pio-Pioneer Club staff played an important part in the developing of, in the development of the New York Pioneer Club, beginning with Lieutenant Colonel Jess Liscolm, retired; the late Lieutenant Colonel. He was the first assistant coach of New York Pioneer Club, and, and of course other assistant coaches were Rudy Nedd, Wesley Wallace, and manager, many, many managers, including Horace Wall, George Bryant, and of course Ed Levy, who was my colleague and has been a great factor in the success of the New York Pioneer Club. And on the training staff, there was a late Charles 'Doc' Turner who was a legend in, in his own time and who is, was well-known himself in the training sectors-circles rather. And Preston Alexander, Alston Gittens [sic] and many many others whose names I c-fail me at this particular time, but without, without the staff the club wouldn't function. I might add at this time that all members of the staff of New York Pioneer Club, like myself, all volunteers, all volunteers who spend their own money to go places with the team and they do it because they're dedicated. And there's no expenses involved in any of these trips or operation. [[sic]] Interviewer:: I'm gonna ask you to sort of move back across the years and c-perhaps come back to the present- Joe Yancey:: Yes. Interviewer:: To talk about the champions you've seen, or champions you've trained, you've prepared, what some of the really outstanding ones were like, how you came to meet them first, really talk about the people who were most impressive in your experience. Joe Yancey:: Well, well, I'll talk about the Jamaican team first. I mean, of course, the Jamaican team that I coached in 1948, the Jamaican Olympic team, rather, I coached the Jamaican Olympic team in 1948, '52, and '56; but in '52 the Jamaican Olympic team won the four by four hundred meter in Helsinki and broke the world's record, 3:03.9 at that time, was quite a feat for small country. And I'll talk about two of, two, three of those athletes on, on that team Herb McKenley, who was one of the greatest quarter-milers that ever came out the Caribbean or ever put on a shoe, because up to a f-few years ago, he ran under 47 seconds for four hundred meters, more than any other quarter-miler in competition at that time. I don't know about today because I haven't been keeping up the statistic, but I met him at Randall's Island, must've been 1945 or 1946. He was at time, at that time a student at Boston- Joe Yancey:: -University and we became friendly and he spoke to me and he is the one, he's the one that- Interviewer:: I'm sorry. Joe Yancey:: Oh, again? [laughs] [[rollout on camera roll]] [[wild sound]] [[cut]] [[camera roll #3]] [[sound roll #3]] Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, Miles Film Productions, sound roll three, camera roll three, sound three. Interviewer:: Could you just start, Coach, please. Joe Yancey:: Yes, I had the pleasure of coaching the Jamaica West Indies Olympic team in 1948, '52, and '56. But in 1952, the Jamaican team had a great year in Helsinki. We won the four by four hundred meter relay team in 3:03.9, breaking the world's record and I want to talk a bit about, talk about the runners. Herb McKenley was a great quarter-miler, and at that time he had ran under forty-seven seconds for the quarter-miler, more than all the quarter-milers up to that time together. And he was a great character. Great character, a great runner. He was a runner that would run at any time that you asked him to run, no matter how fatigued he was, and another relay was coming up, he would run. And Arthur Wint, I met him, as I said before, I had met him in, at Randall's Island, when he was a student at Boston University, and he was really the one that introduced me to the athletic officials in Jamaica, and they are the ones [clears throat] who requested, gave me limitation [sic] to coach that team. And was a great situation; I enjoyed it very much. Arthur Wint, who's about six-feet-four tall and had a, a twelve-foot stride, I met him in London, the first time in 1948, and it was a great association with that team, along with George Rhoden, and George Rhoden was a student, that was going to Morgan; at that time he hadn't entered Morgan yet, but he was going to enter that for George Randy's [sic] first quarter-mile at, at the Olympic Games in 1948 had him, but on that Olympic team in 1952, he won the 400 meters, he won the 400 meters, and we scored well in that, in that situation. Oh, I met some wonderful athletes in my time; and the athletes in the Pioneer Club, you asked me how I met them. Well, they just came through the New York, they came through the Macombs Dam Park, or they came through the 369th Regiment Armory. We had a great rapport. In fact, we had a lovely relationship. I mean, there were some beautiful people; they still are today and I'm very close to 'em, I love them. Many of them look at me as surrogate father, their big brother, or their good friend, or their coach, but we have, I have a great love for them, and they have a great love for me. Anytime that I meet a Pioneer on the street, anywhere in New York, why, we don't shake hands. We hug one another, because that's the feeling we had f-we have for one another. In fact, when I talk about it...these wonderful boys and what they went through, because the New York Pioneer Club was a club that didn't have the more glamorous things that most clubs had. There were times when the money was very low, and I'd say to them, gentlemen, this is going to be a cooperative operation. What did that mean? That meant that we going to Buffalo; it meant bring sandwiches. We did things like that, and we had a wonderful time together. And these young men, every one of them, made good. Every one of them. They developed into some of the finest citizens, not only of New York City, but of New York State and United States. Before I get further emotionally, you better ask me another question. [laughs] [[slate]] [[sic]] [[sic]] Interviewer:: You coached Roscoe Lee Grant [sic] - Joe Yancey:: Oh, yes Roscoe. Interviewer:: -and [unintelligible] Joe Yancey:: Ro-Roscoe was wonderful. Roscoe joined the club during the summertime when he was a student at Lincoln University. And he developed into a great runner, running for the New York Pioneer Club. Roscoe is a dear friend of mine, and let me tell you about a little incident about Roscoe Browne, Roscoe Browne should have made the Olympic team in 1941 [sic] . He was the number one half-miler in United States but in Milwaukee at the national AAU championship, an unfortunate incident happened. In the half-mile event where Roscoe had defeated everyone in that race and two, on two or three previous occasions. But the starter said that Roscoe had broke, but he hadn't broke; but what could you do? They disqualified Roscoe, and he didn't have an opportunity to make the team. That was a very, very discouraging and unfortunate incident. But Roscoe, as you know, has been a loyal Pioneer through the years; he's a good friend of mine and he was a picture runner. Picture runner. Reminds me of a situation down the Garden; down the Garden, Madison Square Garden. We had great mile relay teams in those days, and Roscoe would be running the anchor leg and he would be daydreaming, thinking about Tagore, the famous Indian poet. I'd say, Roscoe, Roscoe, hurry up. He'd looked at me: OK Joe, and he'd just take off and pass everyone. It was such a wonderful rapport and understanding and love that we had with the athletes in those days. It was really great. [[sic]] [[sic]]

00:27:34.000 - 00:30:49.000

Interviewer:: You coached men like Andy Stanfield- Joe Yancey:: Oh, Andy Stanfield. Interviewer:: Reggie Pearman. Joe Yancey:: Reggie Pearman, definitely. Interviewer:: Tell us a bit [unintelligible] Joe Yancey:: Andy was a fine fella, and still is, in fact. Andy came over to New York Pioneer Club and ran, very successful with us. And even before he, he joined the New York Pioneer Club, he worked out with us, he did all his training with us and he finally joined. 'Course Reggie joined the New York Pioneers Club when he was a student at Newtown High School, and he's been with us ever since. And Reggie is a leader. Reggie is a leader. Reggie made the Olympic team in, in 1952 also, and Reggie is now a Ph.D., a member of the Department of Education in, in Washington, DC. Interviewer:: You mentioned earlier that you had watched perhaps all of the events in the Olympics of this past, this past Olympics. Joe Yancey:: I had that pleasure. Interviewer:: I had the pleasure of seeing them all on television. Tell me, some of your impressions the runners that you saw. Joe Yancey:: Well, I was rather impressed with the, with the female athletes this time. I mean, more or less, in fact, I was impressed with the men, also. I thought, esp-especially in the two-hundred meters, the way they finished, one, two, three because Carl is superb, of course; he's a great athlete. I expected him to win; in fact, I expected him to win four gold medals, which he did. But I thought we did a great job in the two-hundred meters, and this chap who won the quarter-mile did a ma-marvelous job also. And the other races were good. Jackie Joyner, winning the triple jump, and I, I'm just trying to recap my memory and think, other, other events that, that we won. Oh, the two relays, oh they were great. The two relays were superb. I thought that we looked so good winning those two relays, we really did, and I think overall we did a wonderful job. I don't think that the, the entry of, of the, of the satellite nations would have made too much difference, possibly in the women events it would have, would have been a little different. But in the men events, no, I don't think so. Interviewer:: Do you think the distribution of medals would have been pretty much the same? Joe Yancey:: More or less the same, yes, definitely, definitely. Interviewer:: You mentioned earlier, Mr. Yancey, that you felt the, that a number of the Eastern European countries have women athletes that are particularly outstanding. Joe Yancey:: Oh, they are indeed. Interviewer:: Their absence might have made- Perhaps you might talk a little bit about- Joe Yancey:: Yes. Czechoslovakia has the world record holder. Germany has a-East Germany, rather, has some world record holder at-women athletes, and Russia also. Oh yes, they have some great athletes over there. In fact, [clears throat] they're very strong in, in the ladies' field events, very strong in that, definitely. They would have dominated those events, and they would've dominated the quarter, the four-hundred meter and the half, and the, and the fifteen hundred meter. They would would've dominated that. I, I doubt very seriously, whether Mary Decker would have possibly won the, the, the 3000 if the, if the, if the European athletes had've been there. If she'd have win anyhow because of course of the Budd situation, Zola Budd situation. But in those events, the Eastern athletes would've fared rather well, definitely.

00:30:50.000 - 00:32:50.000

Interviewer:: Let me ask you to talk about some athletes in some particular categories. Joe Yancey:: Yes. Interviewer:: The outstanding champions, perhaps, in particular areas. If you thought about, maybe, the two, one or two or three greatest champion sprinters you've seen over the years, who would they be? Joe Yancey:: Well, it's according to areas. I mean, of course you'd have to go to Carl Lewis or Martin Tine [sic] . I think Jesse Owens and, and Ralph Metcalfe. No question about it; those two. I have to go with both of them. Eulace Peacock also. Those, those, I, I have to go along with those two. [[sic]] Interviewer:: How about the middle distance runners? Joe Yancey:: Well, McKenley number one, McKenley and Lee, Lee Evans. McKenley, Herb McKenley; Lee, Lee Evans and, yes, I, I stand on those two: Herb McKenley and Lee Evans. Interviewer:: And for the longer distances, the milers, and perhaps the marathon runners. Who would you- Joe Yancey:: Well, I have to go with this chap from; what's this chap's name, from, from, from, Yale. I can't remember his name, the Yale lad. Not-I can't remember his name. I'm sorry. Interviewer:: Could you pick, could you say the, the outstanding miler I've, I've seen would be... Joe Yancey:: Oh, the outstanding miler that I've seen? Well, I'd say Kip was a great miler; Kip, Kip Keino, the African, was a great miler and I'm, I'm just thinkin' now, Bannister, Roger Bannister was a great miler. I, I enjoyed him. This Englishman, the names escape me. The Englishman who holds the world's record- Interviewer:: Cole? Joe Yancey:: Cole. Yes, yes, Cole. Yeah, Cole seems to be a, a, a fine miler, and also- Interviewer:: We're out once again. [[rollout on camera roll]] [[wild sound]] [[cut]] [[camera roll #4]]

00:32:51.000 - 00:36:28.000

Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, sound five. Interviewer:: Mr. Yancey, I'd like you to talk about some of the great champions you've seen over the years, and, and let's start with the sprinters. Joe Yancey:: Well, that's a big order, actually, but I'll try. I would say that in my opinion, I'd say that Jesse Owens and Eulace Peacock, they were the tops in their era. And I guess at the moment, Carl Lewis is the tops in hi-at the moment. In between there were many great spinners: Hines, [clears throat] J-John Collis, Norton, the one I, I mentioned before. There are so many I, I, I can't even think of 'em at this...let me, let me try to recap some of them. Hines, see, the Olympic games, Oh, Harrison Dillard. Harrison Dillard not only a great, great, low h-high hurdler, but also a sprinter; won the Olympic games. Barney Ewell, Andy Stanfield; Andy Stanfield won the 200 meters. Also a, a great hundred yard man and one of my own athletes who would've been greater if he had been more dedicated, that was Ed Greenidge, oh yes, definitely. I think that just about covers it without getting in too deep, because that's a big order. [[slate]] Interviewer:: How about some of the middle distance runners? Joe Yancey:: Oh, middle distance runners? Oh well, I mean, as I mentioned before, quarter-mile I'd say John, John Woodruff, Colonel John Woodruff, I mean, that was one of the top ones, of course, and, and Mal Whitfield. Mal Whitfield. You talking about in this country or around the world? You're tal-well, Arthur Wint, Sebastian Coe, Steve Scott. [clears throat] Let me see. Lee Evans, a great, a great, quarter-miler...Davis, Otis Davis. Isn't that funny, when you try to, think, remember, you can't. Interviewer:: You talked at some length earlier about Herb McKenley. Joe Yancey:: Well, Herb McKenley was one of the greatest. Herb McKenley's one the greatest. George Rhoden. George, George Rhoden and Herb McKinley. George Rhoden was the Olympic champion in 1952. He was a, a great quarter-miler. Oh yeah, definitely. And, and this chap who, because he's untried, though, the chap who won the Olympic championship this past Olympiad. It seems like he's on his way, but, of course, he's untried, and we're gonna see what develops from here on in, and so many great quarter-milers, at the moment, quite a, quite a, fine array of quarter-milers. Interviewer:: Who are the great hurdlers? Joe Yancey:: Well, in the intermediate hurdles, of course, Ed Moses is head and shoulders above everyone else. He's just a magnificent athlete, and he's about the tops in there, worldwide. I mean, I wouldn't put anyone else in his class. I'd just say, Ed Moses, Ed Moses, Ed Moses. Edwin Moses. Interviewer:: Going back over- Joe Yancey:: Beg pardon? Interviewer:: Going back over the years, has there been anyone in that class? Joe Yancey:: No one in his class. No one in his class. Akii-Bua was a, a fine hurdler. Akii-Bua, but that has been no one in the class of, [coughs] of, Edwin Moses, definitely not. He's in a class by himself actually.

00:36:29.000 - 00:40:46.000

Interviewer:: In the field events, are there people who come to mind over the years that you feel are particularly- Joe Yancey:: Well, Jesse Owens number one. Jesse Owens, Willie Banks been doing well in the triple jump and the at the moment, Joyner, Conley. Stones in the high jump. I mean, he's, he's a, he's a rather talkative fella, but they actually must give him a lot of credit. He, he's been competing for quite a long time and he's still doing rather well. And of course you know about Dave Albritton, Mal Whiftield and Cornelius Johnson in, in the 1936 Olympics. And we mentioned, [coughs] let me see, shotput, we have, we have Dave Laut in the shotput who is doing rather well. He's doing over seventy feet. In the distance throw, you have Powell and, another chap, can't remember his name. I, I had them on my national team, but I can't remember his name at the moment. And every event that we're doing fine. In the javlin we have Petranoff, he's doing fine, and the hammer throw is our weak event. Our best man is Ed Burke and he, he did a marvelous job. He came back after about eight or ten year layoff and became our number one hammer thrower. But in that event, we are far below the Eastern countries, far below but we have hopes of catching up with them maybe in the next decade or so. Interviewer:: I'd like you to pick up something for me that we a little bit earlier. Joe Yancey:: Of course. Interviewer:: It's a story about Roscoe in Milwaukee. Would you tell us that story again? Joe Yancey:: Oh yes, that story, I'd be happy to. Well, in, in, in 1948, the national AAU championships [coughs] were held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, [coughs] and Roscoe at that time was the number one, half-miler in the country. He had just defeated Barstrum from the University of Michigan and, and Whitfield at various times in the past and he was number one half-miler, no question about it. In fact, he was at his peak, no, he was tops. And they were lined up for the half-mile, and I will never forget-I won't mention the name of the individual who broke it, what, were not necessary, but this individual broke and several athletes followed him out, but Roscoe was not one of those athletes who broke, but he made the mistake of walking out after the break had occurred. So the starter said, that you broke also. He hadn't, but he disqualified all these athletes, and Roscoe was among them, and he was not able to run and then-that was a qualification for the Olympic trials in Evanston, Illinois, and there was a very disastrous situation and most unfortunate, because Roscoe surely would've made Olympic team. And that's what happened to Roscoe, and it, it was a disaster, really a disaster. Interviewer:: Mr. Yancey, I'd like you to complete this sentence. I'm just going to give you a line and then I'd like you to finish it. To finish the sentence, To be a champion. Joe Yancey:: To be a champion. Well, you need many things. You need, you have to, number one, you have to be fit. You have to have dedication, concentration, confidence, and the will to win. Interviewer:: All right, perfect. Thank you. Joe Yancey:: Thank you. [[cut]] [[sound roll #4]] Camera Crew Member #1:: Slate it. Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, sound six. Camera Crew Member #1:: [unintelligible] a few more Camera Crew Member #2:: OK. Interviewer:: Complete the line, To be a champion. Joe Yancey:: Well, number one, you have to have fitness. You have- Interviewer:: I'm sorry, would you say "To be a champion" in the- Joe Yancey:: Oh, OK. Oh, pardon me. You gonna give me the cue? Interviewer:: Just, just start. I'll just point to you and you'll just say, "To be a champion-" Joe Yancey:: Oh, OK. Interviewer:: OK. When, when I give you the signal to start, just say- Joe Yancey:: OK. All right, OK. Interviewer:: Could we, could we stop? [[slate]] [[cut]]

00:40:47.000 - 00:41:28.000

Camera Crew Member #2:: Champions, sound seven. Joe Yancey:: To be a champion, you have to have, be fit. You have to have confidence. You have to have ability and you have to be, have enough confidence to do the job. And you have to have dedication. All those things are important in order to become a champion. Interviewer:: Good. Thank you. [[slate]] [[car horn]] [[cut]] [[end of interview]]