BE THAT as it may, Frank Wykoff, Southern California's newest bid for recognition at as the "Fastest Human," is the son of a Glendale plumber. If it is true that all plumbers are as slow as is commonly supposed, the 18-year-old Glendale High School youth who defeated Charley Paddock in two races during the Southwest Olympic finals here June 16 (1928), owes none of his speed either to heredity or environment.

"My dad used to be fast," Frank explained in an interview recently." You see, in his younger days he played baseball at Norwalk, Iowa,   and used to beat all the farmer boys in picnic and school footraces. He had no organized competition, however, so I cannot say just how fast he really was."

It may be taken as a matter of course that the elder Mr. Wykoff, otherwise Clifford Wykoff, 51, of 617 Portola Street, Glendale (address no longer exists), has as a matter of business, being a plumber -- slowed down considerably in recent years.  If there has been any speed in Frank's family it dates back to Clifford Wykoff's pre-plumber days.  Possibly Frank first learned how to crouch on his marks, motionless as a graven image awaiting the gun, by watching his father at work under a kitchen range.

FRANK TO COACH

Or possibly the elder Wykoff is, not like most plumbers.  Perhaps he is quite as speedy as his son, and Charley Paddock will testify that this is "some" speed.  At any rate, Frank Does not intend to follow in his father's footsteps.  He does not consider that he is very well qualified for the plumbing trade, being one of the fastest humans, so he has determined to become a coach.

 Click above photograph to enlarge

Newspaper photograph

"And I think that he will be a good coach,"  echoed his own mentor, Normal Hayhurst, coach of the Glendale High School teams.  "Frank first came to school as a football player and he is well grounded   in the fundamentals of all sports.  He has the right slant on things and should do well in his chosen career."

But Frank will not be a coach for several years to come.  First he must matriculate in a university, compete four years on the track team; graduate and then secure a job.  The young athlete declared that he intends to enter the University of Southern California.  He graduates this month, but must return to high school for a semester to make up a certain number of recommended units in which is now lacking.  

"I may have to spend a semester as a post-graduate in high school  and  a  semester in Glendale Junior college," he explained. "But as soon as I the 'recs' I hope to enter U. S. C.   Of course, this is not definite, but inasmuch as I plan to live in Southern California the  rest of my life, I feel that I ought to go to school here."

NINETEEN IN OCTOBER

Frank Wykoff is a simple, home-loving boy who will become 19 years of age on October 29.  By that time he hopes to have won the world's championship in the 100 or 200 meters run at Amsterdam, Holland, or both.  It is typical of the lad that he does not expect to win.  He merely expects to run in Olympic record time, which he has proven to the satisfaction of all that he can do, and to hope that this fast running can place him across the finish lines first.

He did not expect to beat Paddock.  "I never really felt that I was yet  developed sufficiently to beat as great a runner as he," Frank told me. When I was in the sixth grade of grammar school I resolved that some day I would beat Paddock.  I don't know why I made that resolution.  I  guess it was because I had been beating all the boys of my size and age and I looked upon Paddock as my hero.  I dreamed of some day  being in a race with him, and of beating him.

I had always beaten Frank (Lombardi) until the state high school meet at Selma, and I knew that I could do it again.  I felt that I had  not been given a square deal at Selma, because without trying to alibi it is a fact that although Lombardi was set back a yard for one false start, he was ahead of me the second time before I was out of my holes.  That  defeat made me resolve to beat Lombardi here June 16.  He was my  meat and I am glad that I got him.  I also am glad that Frank ran so great a race that he nearly beat Paddock at the 200 meters.  That is  Lombardi's best race.  I think next to the quarter mile.  He would be a great quarter miler."

Wykoff believes that he is of Dutch and English ancestry, although both  his father, Clifford Wykoff, and his mother Nellie Bagg Wykoff were born in Iowa.

A great-great grandmother on his father's side came from Holland, and his  father believes that the name, Wykoff (Judge), is Dutch.    "But my Uncle Bill (Wykoff) says he thinks it (the name Wykoff) is Russian," Frank added.

Uncle Bill Wykoff - 1930

Wykoff files

Continued

"Plumber's Son"   Page 1     Page 2