Reprint of a newspaper article sometime after the 1936 Olympics (August 1936). The newspaper source is unclear -- possibly the Glendale Press

Glendale Star to Store

Spikes for Teaching Job

___________________

By GEORGE T. DAVIS

With his spiked shoes safely stored away in a desk drawer, Frank Wykoff today paused in his preparations to take up his duties as principal of Carpinteria grammar school to recall a few cherished memories of the cinder path.

"Yes sir," he beamed in referring to the Olympic Games in which he competed, "you can say for me that Jesse Owens is the greatest sprinter that ever lived.  He was co-ordination, power, the will-to-win and he can relax under pressure.  That's one of his greatest secrets.

"During the final tryouts Jesse came to me and said 'Just relax, Frank, in those final yards -- it's easy.'  It was great advice, but maybe Owens will find it harder to relax when he's run as long as I have and those old muscles begin to tie up."

Wykoff then told his inside story of the much-discussed selection of the American relay team:

CALLS SPRINTERS

Photo Credits: Associated Press

 Practicing aboard the SS Manhattan en-route to the 1936 Olympics at Berlin

left to right: Foy Draper, Martin Glickman, Sam Stoller, and Matthew Robinson

"Robby (Coach Lawson Robertson) called all of the seven sprinters, Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Mack Robinson, Foy Draper, Marty Glickman, Sam Stroller and myself into a room the morning of the relay race.  He said he had changed his plans about the makeup of the team and would use Owens, Metcalfe, Draper, and myself in that order.

"If any of you have anything to say, now is the time to so so,' he told us.  And neither Glickman nor Stoller, who were excluded made a complaint, although later it was charged that they were left off because they were Jews.

"The only argument was raised by Metcalfe, who wanted to run the anchor lap instead of me.  He said the fastest man should have that honor, but I pointed out that if that was so, Owens should run it.  That ended the protest,.  But as far as Owens was concerned, he was willing to run any lap the coach wanted.  He's that kind of an unassuming fellow."

Asked what he thought of Owens' chances to make a great deal of money in his entertainment work and exhibitions, Wykoff told of meeting the famous Negro sprinter last week-end in the east.

AVOIDS COMMENT

"Boy, I'm in the money now," exclaimed Jesse.

And he proudly pulled three $10 bill out of his pocket.  A long ways from $40,000.

Wykoff carefully avoided commenting upon the Eleanor Holm Jarrett case and unlike so many returning athletes, he did not spend most of his time upbraiding the American officials.

"I can think of many changes that could be made for improving conditions," he declared, "but there has been enough criticism without inserting myself into the picture."

He believes that America will continue to dominate track and field during the Olympics at Tokyo in 1940 and thinks that Stoller and Robinson are among the younger sprinters most likely to steal the spotlight in the short races.

His own best race?

"Well I've always been partial to the one in Lincoln Neb., about five years ago (1931) when three watches caught me at 9.3 for 100 yards, two said 9.3, one was 9.4, and another, 9.5.  They gave me 9.5 - a tenth of a second slower than my own world's record -- but I've always felt that race, in which I beat Tolan, Metcalfe, Simpson and others, was my fastest."

HONOR WYKOFF

Upon his return from Berlin, Wykoff was honored by his hometown Glendale, by a reception, parade and banquet yesterday, and last night.  For eight years he had made the city famous by carrying its huge "G" on his track shirt to victories in many parts of the world.

And the townspeople yesterday paid their respects to one of their most distinguished citizens.

"It's all been wonderful and I wouldn't trade my memories of athletics for anything," the three-time Olympian who anchored the American team to victory told me, "but now it's time to put these spikes away, except maybe for exercise and an occasional exhibition.  You know, I've been invited to the Mardi Gras at New Orleans.

"But my teaching, and my new job as principal at Carpinteria come first.  I intend to make teaching my life's work and this is a splendid opportunity that seldom comes to a fellow my age."

Wykoff had been sought as coach at the Carpinteria high school, but the principal's position at the grammar school appeared to off the greater chances for advancement.

"I guess you won't be writing much more about me on the sports page," was his parting shot, "but keep a sharp eye on the birth notices and you'll soon find another Wykoff name that might keep you busy in the years to come."