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In Memoriam

Bill QUINLISK  1951-2021
Past USATF Niagara president Bill Quinlisk died peacefully on May 16 after a heroic fight against cancer.  He was 70 years of age. Quinlisk was a resident of Delmar, N.Y and a long-time contributor to USA Track & Field and the sport.  He had served as the president of USATF Adirondack since 2019 and had also served as president of USATF Niagara in the late 2000's.  He is believed to be the only person to serve as president of two different USATF associations.  full article
JAMES BROWN  1924-2017
CEDRIC WALKER    1963-2013
Long-time track & field advocate Cedric Walker passes away at age 49,  Active as an association president, as a coach and manager on numerous international teams and a USA Track & Field President’s Award winner, long-time track and field supporter Cedric Walker passed away March 14, 2013. He was 49. A 2005 winner of the USA Track & Field President’s Award, Walker had become a staple as a manager, assistant coach or volunteer for Team USA at numerous events, which included the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2003 and 2005 World Outdoor Championships. Walker was also instrumental with USATF on the association level where he served as president of the Niagara Association from 1996 until 2000. In 1986, Walker helped to create the Flower City Track Club to help young athletes gain more opportunities to compete in the sport in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. The club produced numerous big name athletes, which included Olympic silver medalist and National Track & Field Hall of Fame member Kim Batten. Walker served in the following roles: 1993 World University Games assistant coach; 1998 World Junior Championships team manager; 2002 World Junior Championships assistant coach; 2003 World Outdoor Championships assistant coach (sprints/hurdles); 2004 World Indoor Championships assistant coach; 2004 World Junior Championships relays coach; 2004 Olympic Games volunteer; 2005 World Outdoor Championships event manager; 2006 World Indoor Championships event manager; 2011 Pan American Junior Championships event manager; 2012 NACAC U23 head manager. Involved with the organization for the past 20 years, in 2002 Walker was a charter member on the board of directors for the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NASF) where he served until his death.
HENRY SYPNIEWSKI   1918-2012
The USA Oldest Record holder and USATF Niagara masters Legend, Henry Sypniewski, 93 of Cheektowage, NY died at his home on April 1, 2012. According to family and friends, the cause of death was stomach cancer. Born on July 7, 1918, Henry was a veteran of World War II, in which he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following a career as a machinist, Henry took up running at age 70 and seemed to excel more in each five year age group he reached. Following his 90th birthday in 2008, Henry set US records in the 90-94 age group in the 5km (33:46), the 15km (2:01:39), and the half marathon (3:03:56). In 2009 he also set the 10km record with a time of 1:13:40. Despite being hampered by a variety of injuries in the past two years. Henry managed to set US single age records for the 5km in each of the past three years: 38:53 at age 91, 41:00 at age 92, and a pending mark of 45:47 in his final race at age 93. Henry's performance, almost exclusively on the roads, earned his USATF Masters Age Division Runner of the Year honors in various years and three different age groups: M80-84 in 1998 and 1999; M85-89 in 2003; 2004 and 205; and M90-94 in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
BRIAN DODGE   1953-2012
Accomplished Masters Runner, Niagara, and Genesee Valley Harrier Member, Brian Dodge of Fulton, NY, passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Brian was a retired Health Education teacher. During College he was a four time All-American Cross Country and Track Star while attending Alleghany Community College and Plattsburg State. Recently Brian was on many successful Genesee Valley Harrier Masters team including the 2011 USATF National Grand Prix Masters 50+ Champions.   Read more about Brian
PETER GLAVIN   1966-2010
Long time Niagara Association LDR Men's Chair, Peter Glavin of Greece, NY, passed away on Friday, April 23, 2010. Peter battled brain cancer for over a year. In addition to his success as a runner at McQuaid HS, Rutgers Univ. and with CATS AC, Pete was a co-founder of the Genesee Valley Harriers and one of the early star runners for GVH. He founded and directed the Upstate NY Cross Country Series for 20 years. The series has been renamed the Pete Glavin Upstate NY XC Series in his honor. Pete was the recipient of the 2009 USATF National Cross Country Council Award of Merit. 
Peter Glavin, area road race pioneer, dies of cancer
A tribute to cross country’s ‘king’ Pete Glavin
GEORGE "ARK" TILLSON  1928-2009
Niagara Sanctions Chair and Course Measurer George "Ark" Tillson Passed Away on November 12, 2009. George Tillson of Ferris Hills processed Sanction Applications and measured many courses in the Niagara Region. George was the longtime race director of the Phelps Sauerkraut 20 km. He will be missed.
PETER KEYES  1936-2009
Long time Niagara Association Vice President, George Peter Keyes Dies at 73. Pete Keyes of Binghamton did much of the work on our association by-laws and provided legal advice throught 2004. Pete was a founding member and secretary of the Triple Cities Runners Club and played a major role in Niagara's bid to host the 2000 Olympic Trials at the University at Buffalo. He will be greatly missed.
Obituary