Max Truex, shown here, who last May recorded the fastest mile ever run by a high school trackman in the United States, announced today that he would enroll as a freshman at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles on Sept. 13

Truex, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, of North Bay Drive, set a new state and national prep record when he covered the distance in 4:20.4 at the state track meet in Indianapolis as a Warsaw high school senior last spring.

Max will leave Warsaw for Los Angeles on or about Sept. 10. He will take a pre-law course in business administration.

Wanted by Many
Truex's choosing of Southern California ended considerable anxiety among sports fans as to where he would attend college. Until a few weeks ago he was seriously considering either Notre Dame or Michigan. It was no secret that dozens of colleges sought his services.

Southern California is noted as the best track college in the nation. Since Jess Mortensen took over as head coach in 1951 the Trojans have been undefeated in all track competition. Southern California has won the NCAA track championship for the past six years.

Many famous track "names" won their fame at the university, including sprinters Mel Patton, Frank Kykoff and Charley Paddock, distance runners Lou Zamperini and Bob Pruitt, hurdlers Dick Attlesey and Jack Davis; high jumpers Ernie Shelton and Johnny Wilson; pole vaulters Earle Meadows and Bill Sefton, and shot-putter Parry O'Brien.

Warsaw Times Union, Tues. Aug. 31, 1954

 Max Truex, shown here, former Warsaw high school athlete and now a sophomore track star at the University of Southern California, finished sixth among nearly 200 collegiate runners yesterday in the NCAA national cross-country championship race at Michigan State college, East Lansing Mich.

Charles (Deacon) Jones, of Iowa, won the race over the four-mile course in the excellent time of 19 minutes 57 and four-tenth sprint, beat out Henry Kennedy, of Michigan State, by a yard.

Gaylor Denslow, of Michigan State, was third; Sture Landquist, of Oklahoma A & M, fourth and Selwyn Jones, Michigan State, fifth.

Truex, holder two years ago of the national high school record in the mile run, ran a very fine race despite temperatures of 10 degrees above zero and a snow-covered race. He finished ahead of several star distance runners, including Bill Squires, of Notre Dame.

Other Finishers
Behind Truex were Billie Tidwell, Kansas State Teachers, seventh; Perry Block, Michigan State, eighth; Squires, ninth; Ike Matza, NYU, 10th; Edward Monelly, Notre Dame, 11th; John Miller, Oberlin, 12th; John Hughes, Colorado, 13th; Robert Fagerty, St. Joseph's of Philadelphia, 14th; Tony Pentino, Indiana, 15th; Neil Burson, Miami of Ohio, 16th; and Harold Long, Kansas, 17th.

Michigan State, by placing four men among the first eight, captured the team title for the fifth time. Nearly 40 colleges and universities competed for the team championship. Kansas was second; Notre Dame and NYU tied for third; St. Joseph's of Philadelphia, fifth; Indiana, sixth; Miami of Ohio, seventh; Western Michigan, eightth; and Oberlin, of Ohio, ninth.

Truex was accompanied to East Lansing by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, of North Bay drive in Warsaw, and his brother, Don, a freshman at the University of Michigan.

Warsaw Times Union Tues. Nov. 29, 1955

 Max Truex of Warsaw, is continuing to show his heels to other runners during his current sophomore year in track at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Last weekend Truex turned in the fifth best performance ever by an American outdoors in the 5,000 meters run during the Southern Pacific AAU meet. His time was 14 minutes, 31 and four-tenths seconds. His time at 3 miles was 14:02.

It was also the sixth best time in American history including indoor performances for the 5,000 meters.

Only the following have run faster: Fred Wilt with 14:26.8; Curt Stone, 14:27.4; Charley Capozzoli, 14:27.4; Ralph Hill 14:30.0; and Don Lash with an indoor 14:30.9. Wilt and Lash are also Hoosiers, both being former Indiana university distance running stars.

Max ran away from the pack after a few turns of the track and lapped nearly everyone in the huge field.

To show the significance of Truex' time, it would have placed him second, for instance, in the 1952 U. S. Olympic trials for the distance of three miles, plus 188 yards.

Max is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, of North Bay drive. While a Warsaw high school star two years ago, Max set a new United States high school record for the mile run at the state track meet, although it was broken again last year.

Warsaw Times Union Fri. Mar. 16, 1956

 By Gabby Garber, Sports Editor

An all-time record for the state of Arizona was shattered by the methodical running of Max Truex of Warsaw, when Max and his Southern California teammates trounced the University of Arizona 105 to 26, in Tucson a few weeks ago.

Condict Smith, former Warsaw school teacher now a resident of Tucson, sent us a letter and newspaper clippings telling of Max's 9:15.5 effort in the two-mile run, fastest ever recorded in Arizona. The previous best in the state was 9:20.6.

Condict, his wife, Peg, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Chinworth, of Warsaw, who were guests of the Smiths, were able to attend the dual meet. They got a big "kick" out of seeing the five foot, five inch Truex, now a sophomore at USC, show his heels to the rest of the pack.

Another all-time Arizona mark was broken when Southern Cal's Ray Martin heaved the 16 pound shot 55 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

The photo of Max and his roommate, pictured with this story, was taken by Smith during the meet.

Condict's letter included, "I miss the fine brand of basketball played in Indiana. Tucson had a bad year. We are running three schools at Tucson H.S. There are over 6,000 students attending there. Schools are certainly crowded. High schools start at 7:05 and run until about 5:40. We hope to come back for a short time this summer, but plans aren't complete.

Warsaw Times Union Tues. Apr. 3, 1956

 Max Truex, pictured here while working at the Arnolt corp. plant, will be on Ed Sullivan's nationally televised "Toast of the Town" program at 7 o'clock next Sunday night.

Truex and other outstanding members of the U. S. squad which will compete next November in the Olympic Games at Melbourne, Australia, will be flown to New York for the program.

Max, who will compete in both the 10,000 and 5,000 meter runs, will leave Warsaw Saturday afternoon for Fort Wayne, from where he will catch a plane at 5 p.m. for New York.

Such past and present Olympic standouts as Jesse Owens, Johnny Weismueller, Elnore Holm, Rev. Bob Richards and many others will appear along with Truex on the Sullivan TV show.

Truex is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, of North Bay Drive in Warsaw. He will be a junior next fall at the University of Southern California. In the Olympic tryouts he won the 10,000 meter event and placed third in the 5,000 meter run. He is the first local athlete to ever make the U. S. Olympic squad.

While at home for the summer, Max is working as a bending machine operator at the Arnolt plant. He stays in shape by working out daily around the county fairgrounds.

Warsaw Times Union Tues., Aug. 7, 1956

 
Warsaw Bids Goodbye,
Good Luck to Max Truex

By Curtis Garber, Editor
Warsaw bids "goodbye and good luck" today to Olympic track star Max Truex. Max, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, North Bay drive, leaves at daybreak tomorrow by automobile for Los Angeles and the start of his junior year at the University of Souther California.

But of the utmost importance to his many fans is that it means the start of Max's earnest training for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

This is the last Warsaw will see of Max until after the Olympic Games are completed early next December. He is the first from Warsaw and Kosciusko county ever to make a United States Olympic squad. This is a great honor in itself, but Max went one better. He became the first person in the U. S. to make the team when he won the 10,000 meters event in the final Olympic trials last June. A few days laterh he also qualified for the 5,000 meters run.

A classmate and teammate of Truex, Wes McLeod, is in Warsaw and will make the trip to Los Angeles with Max. McLeod, a Canadian, is not on the Olympic team although he is one of this nation's best collegiate milers.

Start Training Soon
Max will have only a few short weeks of school before he assembles with the other U. S. Olympic stars in Los Angeles on Oct. 15. They will train together and then depart by airplanes for Australia on or about Nov. 5. The Olympic Games are scheduled Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.

Whether or not Truex will be able to place in the Olympic Games is problematical. The United States has never fared well in the long-distance events. Max, only 20, will be considerably younger than most of the European stars he will be running against.

But place or not, Max will be carrying the best wishes of everyone. He has kept in great shape this summer, working at the Arnolt corporation, and finding time each day to jog with his brother, Don, for miles and miles over the countryside.

Many organizations have paid personal tribute to Max during his brief two-month summer vacation in his home city. Some are sending contributions to the Olympic fund. Many others have indicated a desire to help this fund, seeing as how a home town boy is on the U. S. team. Anyone may do so by sending a check to the U. S. Olympic Fund, care of your local postmaster.

Warsaw Times Union Wed., Sept. 12, 1956

A hip injury may keep Max Truex out of the Olympic Games which start Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22 in Melbourne, Australia. (See wire service stories below.)

Wire services had conflicting reports today on the seriousness of Truex's injury. United Press quoted team doctor Harold Miller as saying the Southern California distance star from Warsaw had been suffering from a strained muscle in his right hip for several days "but it should not keep him out of action for long."

On the other hand the Associated Press story said Truex may not be able to compete, that the injury is at the base of his spine and cause him acute pain every time he tries to run, that he is receiving heat treatment and massage--so far to no avail.

Truex, 21 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, North Bay Drive, Warsaw, was the first man to qualify for the U. S. Olympic track squad. He made it in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. He is said to be the U. S. team's main hope in the 10,000.

He also is the first native Kosciusko county youth ever to make the Olympic squad. He is in only his sophomore year at USC. Three years ago, while a senior at Warsaw high school, he broke the state and national record for the mile run.

Happened in L. A.
Truex said in Melbourne that he did not know how the injury was caused but believes he aggravated it when running at Los Angeles two weeks ago.

He has been unable to train since arriving in Melbourne last Friday. He missed today's pre-Olympic meet in which the U. S. track and field squad competed against nine other nations at Geelong, Australia.

Dick Bank, a Track and Field News publication sports writer in Los Angeles, wrote to the Times-Union yesterday, reporting that Max hurt his back in a workout prior to the squad's departure from the united States.

His Schedule
The Olympic Games schedule calls for Truex, if he is able, to compete in the 10,000 meter run on Nov. 23 at 6 p.m., the 5,000 meter run on Nov. 26 at 3:50 p.m. If he should qualify for the finals in the 5,000, he would run again at 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 28. These hours are Melbourne time, which is about 19 hours ahead of Warsaw time.

Anyone wishing to write Truex may do so to the following address:

Max E. Truex, United States Olympic Track and Field Team, Olympic Village, Heidelberg; Victoria, Australia. Air mail letters would arrive in Australia in four days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Leo H. Petersen, UP Sports Editor
Melbourne, Australia. - America planned to put its mighty Olympic track and field team on display for the first time tonight in a special track meet, but Coach Jim Kelly hinted strongly his athletes will be performing "under wraps."

The competition, first major Olympic competition in the international carnival's most noted sport, was an invitation affair at Geelong, about 40 miles from the main Olympic site at Melbourne.

The Americans who are favored to dominate track and field in the actual competition which gets underway Nov. 22, were expected to share the spotlight in tonight's meet with John Landy, Australia's world mile record holder, who planned to compete in the two-mile run.

Truex Sidelined
Coach Kelly, supremely confident of his team's ability, remarked that in this meet "nobody will knock themselves out because this is just designed to give our athletes a feel of competition." Tonight's competition will be followed by another tune-up meet on Saturday at Bendigo, about 100 miles from Melbourne.

Max Truex, of Warsaw, Ind., one of the United States' top hopes in the 10,000 meter run, was expected to pass up tonight's meet because of a strained muscle in the right hip. Team physician Dr. Harold "Brick" Muller, predicted the University of Southern California star would be sidelined for only two days.

Kelly and the other Olympic track coaches still have yet to set foot on the main Olympic tracks in the arena. The area is marked "out of limits" and guarded to keep athletes from trampling them while they are still being put in top condition for the games.

Boxing Coach Gloomy
In contrast to Kelly's optimism about the track, Coach F. Don Miller of the U. S. boxing team gloomily predicted his squad won't come close to the record number of five gold medals it won in the 1952 games at Helsinki.

The reason Miller said, is that Americans "fight too much like professionals."

"Many times in the past we have had men disqualified for bobbing, weaving, and hooking like professionals," said the San Antonio, Tex., coach. He said the squad is practicing the "stand-up" style demanded by Olympic rules, but so far only three members have mastered it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A. P. Says Truex May Miss Games
The Associated Press report on Truex's injury today was of a more serious nature and indicated he may miss the Olympic Games. The A. P. story was as follows:

The United States 5,000 and 10,000 meters hope for the Olympic Games, Max Truex has a back injury and may not be able to compete. He has been unable to train since arriving in Melbourne last Friday.

The injury is at the base of his spine and causes him acute pain every time he tries to run. Truex said Monday he did not know how the injury was caused but believes he aggravated it when running at Los Angeles 12 days ago. He is receiving heat treatment and massage --so far to no avail.

Warsaw Times Union Wed. Nov. 14, 1956 page 1 and page 7

The physical status of Max Truex of Warsaw was still in doubt today as the XVI Olympiad prepared to open at midnight (Warsaw time) in Melbourne, Australia.

Nine hundred and eighty five athletes from 69 countries were on hand, determined to make Melbourne an island of good will in a world torn by strife.

Truex, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, of North Bay Drive, qualified for both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs even though at 21 years of age he is one of the youngest U. S. participants. He is in his junior year at the University of Southern California.

However two weeks ago, while warming up for a practice meet among the United States track stars in California, he suffered a back injury. It has not responded to treatment and Max has been unable to train since arriving in Australia.

Doubtful Starter
Team coaches, in their latest report, said he was suffering from a sacroiliac condition and listed Truex as a doubtful starter.

The greatest parade of the world's top athletes begins in the main stadium at the Melbourne cricket grounds at 3 p.m. Thursday (Melbourne time). However Melbourne is 15 hours ahead of our local time, which means the activities will actually get underway at midnight tonight. (EST).

The 10,000 meters run, for which Truex is eligible to compete, is on the second day schedule of events (Friday in Melbourne but Thursday here). The 5,000 meters race comes three days later.

The Commonwealth Weather Bureau in Melbourne predicts 70 degree temperatures and clear skies for the opening.

Warsaw Times Union Wed., Nov. 21, 1956

By Dick Bank

Melbourne, Australia (Special to the Times-Union) -- Warsaw's Max Truex, hampered by a strained muscle, dropped out of the 10,000 meter run at the Olympic Games today after 10 3/4 laps.

Vladimir Kuts, of Russia, the favorite, went on to win the event in the new Olympic record time of 28 minutes, 45.6 seconds.

Truex, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, North Bay Drive, sustained a back injury one week before his departure from Los Angeles. He was unable to do any training until a few days ago.

Max was running next to last when he was lapped by Kuts and Gordon Pirie of Great Britain, and he wisely dropped out rather than risk further aggravation to the muscle.

Probably Through
It is very doubtful that Truex will run in the 5,000 meters next week, preferring instead to give the injury a start on the way to a successful healing.

[Other Olympics reporting follows]

Warsaw Times Union Friday, November 23, 1956

(Note: Curtis (Gabby) Garber, editor of The Times-Union and former sports Editor, today received a letter form Max Truex, mailed Nov. 22 from Melbourne, Australia, site of the Olympic Games. Truex, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, North Bay drive, Warsaw, made little mention of his back injury which forced him to drop out of the 10,000-meter run after 11 laps and which will probably keep him from competing in the 5,000 meters. His letter, however, was written even before the Games officially opened, and is concerned mostly with the U. S. team's trip to Melbourne. The letter follows.)

Nov 21, 1956
Dear Gabby:

I realize that this letter is a little late, but I would like to thank everyone for the birthday cards, telegrams and letters I received. I certainly did appreciate them.

The opening day ceremonies for the XVI Olympic Games are tomorrow. There have been only 13 held, however Olympic Games were not held in 1916, 1940 and 1944.

Perhaps I should tell a little about my trip over. I traveled with a group that included most of the men's track and field team, part of the women's track and field team, and the women's gymnastic team.

We had an enjoyable 36 hours in Hawaii. Refueling stops were made at the Canton Islands, Fiji Islands and Sydney, Australia. During the trip we crossed the equator and the International Date Line. By crossing the date line we lost Nov. 8, but we will make it up on the way home by having two days, which will be Dec. 6.

The U. S. Olympic team consists of more than 400 people. this includes athletes (over 300), coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, U. S. Olympic committee members, etc. The men's track and field team is the largest group of athletes, with about 65 men.

We are living in Olympic Village, a village housing more than 4,000 members of the various teams. The entire village is surrounded by a high fence, and soldiers guard the entrance.

The women live in a fenced-off section of the village. Each team has its own section of the village. The American men occupy an entire block. Murray Coburn, a teammate of mine at Southern California, lives right across the street from my quarters with his Canadian teammates.

The dining halls are located in the center of the village. Each team is served meals which are somewhat comparable to their national diet. For instance, the French is (the) only team I know of that is served wine with its meals. The food has been excellent.

Tomorrow evening we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the two American dining halls. I wish I could be home for Thanksgiving, but, of course, this is impossible.

I have been bothered by an injury for about three weeks now. I am able to jog now and feel certain that I will be able to run the 10,000-meter race on Friday.

See you in December.
Sincerely,
Max Truex

Warsaw Times Union Tues. Nov. 27, 1956

Max Truex has returned to Warsaw, disappointed, sure, but nevertheless confidently determined to make the 1950 U. S. Olympic track team and forget the unfortunate injury which prevented him from running in this year's Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Max, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Truex, North Bay drive, qualified for both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events at Melbourne, only to miss out because of a strained muscle in his hip. He suffered the injury during his final practice in the United States prior to leaving for Melbourne.

"The injury has healed and I'm already working out," Max told Times-Union reporters today.

Home Over Holidays
The University of Southern California junior running ace returned home this week for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. He will be home about three weeks before returning to Los Angeles. He will go back on a full schedule of classroom work. He has taken only one three-course due to his having to be absent from the university while the Olympic Games were in progress.

"I'm okay and have already started a bit of trotting around Warsaw," Max said.

He is looking forward to the 1957 track season at Southern Cal and believes his injured hip will not bother his efforts.

Warsaw Times Union Wed. Dec. 19, 1956

 This is a link to a web site where Max's brother, Don L. Truex wrote a letter telling of the accomplishments of his late brother on what would have been Max's 70th birthday. There is a wonderful photo.

This is a link to a web site of Youth On Track Foundation, Inc. The foundation was specifically formed by a friend and fellow runner and and Dedicated to Max Truex

Milton, Mass. - One of America's greatest distance runners, Max Truex, 55, a native of Warsaw, died in his Milton home Sunday morning. (Mar. 24, 1991)

Truex, a 1954 graduate of Warsaw High School, had been battling Parkinson's disease for 10 years.

As a senior at Warsaw High School, Truex set a state and national record in the one mile run with a time of 4:20.4 at the state meet in Indianapolis.

He continued his running success at the University of Southern California, and, in 1957, he won the NCAA cross country championship and also set an American record in the 5,000 meters. He won the 10,000 meters race in the National AAU championships in 1956 and 1959.

His track successes resulted in a place on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. He was unable to compete in the Melbourne, Australia games, however, due to a leg injury.

He continued to run as a member of the U. S. Air Force after graduation from USC. He was awarded a spot on the 1960 U. S. Olympic team and competed in the 10,000 meters at Rome. He was the only U. S. runner to qualify for the 10,000 finals and he raced against 19 of the world's top runners in the event. He finished sixth with a time of 28:50.2 --an American record.

At 5-foot-5, Truex was the smallest athlete to ever represent the United States in track and field in the Olympics. He was named Warsaw's Man of the Year in 1960 at the age of 24. He remains the youngest individual to ever win the award.

After his running days were over, Truex settled in Los Angeles County, Calif., where he was a prominent trial lawyer, specializing in real estate litigation.

Truex and his family moved to the Boston area in 1989 after he underwent surgery in China for treatment of his disease.

He is survived by is wife, Kay, and their three children, Gene, John and Mindy, residing at 50 Belcher Circle, Milton, MA 02186.

Other survivors include his mother, Lucylle Truex, 3775 Modoc Road #70, Santa Barbara, Calif., and a brother, Don Truex, Santa Barbara. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother.

Although no funeral services are planned, arrangements are being handled by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home, Milton.

A memorial service is being planned in Warsaw for sometime this summer.