Hall of Fame
Track & Field (1960-63)
Doug Ketron set three Far Western Conference records and three University of Nevada school records and earned NCAA All-America honors in track. The tall, mining engineering student of the early 1960s was a “heck of a competitor,” according to Dr. Dick Dankworth who was Nevada’s track coach at the time. “His doctor advised him to quit running, but he paid no heed.” The 6-2 athlete from San Anselmo, Calif., was a pleasant surprise to Nevada track coach. “He was an unheralded walk-on,” said Dankworth. “Doug’s times today would not be impressive as distance running has made great progress, such as the high school level. But in the early 1960s few two-milers were breaking 10 minutes.” Ketron won the 1960 conference meet in 9:37, and the next year lowered the record to 9:14. In 1962 he was edged, by one step, in record time. When the three-mile run was started in 1963, Ketron became the first Far Western Conference winner, in 14:09.2 which was one of the best clockings in the U.S. that year. He took fourth in the NCAA College Division National Championships to earn All-America honors. “Ketron helped Nevada establish cross country, a new sport in the Far Western Conference then,” Dankworth added. As a student, Ketron was president of Block N, a member of Coffin and Keys, Sigma Nu, the student union board and the Sigma Tau engineering society. He graduated in mining in 1963 and went on to work as a mining engineer in Nevada and California and operated a gem shop in Volcano, Calif.
