http://www.andersonvalleypost.com/news/ ... hn-lipsey/Running in memory of John Lipsey
Tracye Dethero, Contributing Writer
news@andersonvalleypost.comPosted September 15, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
RUNNING IN HIS MEMORY: Members of the Cottonwood Community leave the starting line at the John Lipsey Memorial Run at North Cottonwood School, Saturday September 12th.
Approximately 70 people met at North Cottonwood School to attend a 5k run, which has been held the past three years to raise money for the Cottonwood Community Park. The race was called "The Salmon Run", but was renamed the John Lipsey Memorial Run, after John Lipsey, a local coach, mentor, and track judge.
Lipsey was a huge part of the Cottonwood Community, coaching local youth in the running world. He was also a judge for the sport in the Pacific Association, which is a part of USA Track and Field, and specialized in the pole vault. At the college level, Lipsey has had pole-vaulting events named after him at California State University, Chico and at University of California, Davis.
Lipsey passed away in April of this year from Coronary Artery Disease at the age of 68. On hand at the Memorial Run were his wife Sandy of Cottonwood and his youngest son Curtis Lipsey who traveled from Florida to run in the event.
"It means a lot for me to be here," said the younger Lipsey. "It's great to see people who came out to support him, to honor him and seeing the people that my dad had touched their lives. It is the least I can do, is to be out here for him and for my mom.
John Lipsey had participated in the track program at the University of Maine at Orono, and then went on to coach for the University of Tennessee. When the family moved to Cottonwood, Lipsey worked in the timber industry and upon retirement he began officiating and coaching track and cross-country. Lipesy's oldest son Christopher of Los Angeles was unable to travel to participate in the event.
"John would have been honored to have the run named after him," said Lipsey's wife of 40 years, Sandy. "Most of the people that are here running are people whose lives he touched in one way or another."
Carri Longnecker was one of the coordinators of the event. Fleet Feet of Redding did the official timing.
The first five runners to finish the race were: David Braund of Cottonwood, Mike Galigan of Nevada City, Justin Hale of Cottonwood, Ryan Teesdale of Redding and Garrett Sanders of Red Bluff.
