United States Corporate Athletics Association

• Age: 55
• Team: ExxonMobil Tigers
• Years with team: 18
• Years as a USCAA participant: 18
• Years with company: 31
• Professional Position: Laboratory Analyst
• Age at which he discovered track and field: 9
• USCAA Participation: 100m, 200m, 400m, Seniors Relay, High Jump, Long Jump, Sprint Relay

When Ken Thomas’ mother first saw him using a bamboo cane and the mattress from his bed to learn pole vaulting at age 9, she probably thought her son would become an international athlete. Now, though, 46 years later, that’s exactly what he is.

Ken’s early entry love of the pole vault continued into his high school years, where he set the school record at 12’6″, propelling him to Henderson State University. He was a track runner for four years there, and he continued to pole vault, setting the school record at 15’6″.

Despite his early success, though, Ken’s track career reached unprecedented heights later in life. He joined the ExxonMobil team in 1994 and competed for the first time in Waterville, Maine.

He has been the driving force for the team ever since that first meet. Besides his talent in events, he has assisted the team in a variety of ways. He organizes practices for the sprinters and mid-distance runners in Houston, and he works hard at recruiting new members and obtaining funding for the team.

Still it’s what Ken can do on the track and in the field that really make him stand out.

At USCAA events, Ken has been dominant in the jumping competitions. He has won the event five straight years and six of the last seven. In 2010, he and partner Larry Vollmer set the meet record with 3,686 points.

On the track, Ken is more than just a role model for younger athletes. He is their competition. Despite his being old enough to anchor the Seniors Relay, his 200m is still fast enough to compete in his favorite relay (the Sprint Relay) and he has also been a member of the 4x100m team for several years.

Beyond the USCAA, Ken’s talent has taken him to success in international competitions. He was a member of the USA 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams that placed third at the World Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2007 in Riccione, Italy.

Ken has also competed for the last three years at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships. In 2009, he won gold in Lahti, Finland, as a member of the 4x100m and 4x400m teams. He won medals the following year in Kamloops, Canada, and last year in Sacramento, California (Worlds Outdoor).

Ken Thomas has come a long way since using a bamboo cane. In four countries on two continents, he has displayed his ability. For the USCAA, he has shone as an example of what a great athlete can be. Whether he is pushing his teammates or competing with them, he continues to inspire them, and he has helped keep the ExxonMobil team competitive for almost 20 years.

• Age: 59
• Team: U S West now Qwest
• Years with team: 17
• Years at a USCAA participant: 16
• Years with Company: 29, now retired
• Professional Position: VP Controller of U S West Direct at retirement

Jack is a 17-year veteran with the USCAA. He has competed with the Qwest team during that time primarily in the road races, and the President’s relay. He has also competed in the Masters, Seniors, and Executive relays. For the past two years jack has served on the USCAA Board of Directors, and has worked hard this year as head of the Nationals Implementation Committee for our Renton Championship Competition.

He began his running “career” in 1980 at age 39 and is most proud of his running accomplishments over the years at USCAA Nationals Championships. They include medals in his primary events, mentioned above, with gold on several occasions in the President’s relay.

He has been an advocate and sponsor of the Qwest team from its inception helping to insure internal acceptance of the team’s goals through promoting financial and other leadership support. He has tried to be a role model for employees by demonstrating a balance of physical fitness and corporate excellence. Jack misses this aspect of his involvement with the team most since his retirement.

Jack is also proud oft have been the founder of Ten Qwest the corporation’s program for Olympic caliber athletes. This program started in 1989 is designed to provide track and field athletes with real career opportunities. The program is designed to permit a work schedule allowing the time and flexibility required to train for the Olympic team. Presently there are seven athletes in the program. They are highlighted in the advertisement on the inside front cover of your event program. Jack will be happy to talk more with anyone interested in this program.

In retirement jack continues with his interest in USCAA and in the normal retirement “stuff”, travel with his wife, Nancy, activities with children, grand children, running, etc.

• Age 70
• Team: Texas Instruments
• Years with Team: 28
• Years as a USCAA participant: 26
• Years with Company: 20 (retired in 1994)
• Professional Position: Engineering Administrator

Many an exciting sprint relay event at the National Corporate Cup Relay has been fueled, in large part, by the extraordinary efforts of dedicated and talented athletes such as Tony Deatherage. Often running in relay legs intended for much younger athletes, Tony’s performance has drawn out the best in his fellow competitors and elevated USCAA competition to a higher level of excellence for over a quarter century. Within the TI Track Team, he has officially served as one of the team coaches for the past three years, but well before that, Tony’s ability to impart his in-depth knowledge of track & field in his own history of athletic accomplishments have set him apart as a natural leader. With an innate ability to identify and develop untapped potential in less experienced athletes, his long-time role as instructor for new recruits and veterans cannot be over-emphasized. Truly, this continuity of knowledge transfer from one generation of runners to the next has been one of the keys to TI’s success over the years both on and off the track. Further exemplifying Tony’s selfless generosity and commitment of the USCAA, whenever volunteers have been needed, Tony has always been one of the first to step forward.

Key Achievements/Performances/Honors/Contributions

Tony was a member of TI’s record setting 4x200m team in 1990. He ran a 24.4 split on the 50 year old leg. His list of USCAA medals is too numerous to count. The past two years he led off the winning Seniors Relay team. Tony has also competed in the Master’s Track circuit in Texas where he has medaled several times and competed in several national championship meets. He has held several meet records in his age group and in 1992 he had the fastest time in the nation in the 100m dash for the 55-59 year age group, with a time of 11.92 seconds.

Team Leadership Examples

Tony is one of two TI Team coaches. These positions are elected by the team. He rarely misses a practice. At practice he works harder than most of the 20 years old and serves as an inspiration to others. He is always the first to volunteer for local events when help is needed with timing or track meet organization. Tony is also a walking encyclopedia of Track and Field info reeling off times, splits, records, and performances from the USCAA, high school, college, and professional runners.

You can always count on Tony to bring passion, energy, and a positive outlook to every practice, to every time trial, and to every meet. Tony is extremely dedicated to the TI track team. He is considered to be one of the cornerstones of the team and he helps make every season fun and memorable.

• Age: 41
• Team: AT&T
• Years with Team: 13
• Years as a USCAA participant: 12
• Years with company: 20
• Professional Position: District Manager

Rich has been a life-long participant in track & field. He conducts his training in such a way that he always delivers peak performances at the Nationals for AT&T. Rich has been an inspiration to many AT&T participants in both field events and running events. He has been the 2nd (next to Sammy White) most versatile and consistent participant on AT&T’s team. He has maintained his fitness and performances while holding demanding jobs at AT&T.

• High Jump, Long Jump, 200 meters to 800 meters.
• Coordinated the NY, NJ, PA regional meets in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Recruited additional teams (Dialogic) in 1999 and (Novartis) in 2000.

Team Jumps:

• 6 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals, 2 Bronze Medals
• 11 times over 1600 pts including 3 over 1700 and 1 over 1800
• Top HJ in USCAA history 6’10” in ’88 and ’91 (over 30)
• 8 times 6’6″ or better in HJ
• 8 times over 20′ in LJ including 21’1″ (’88)

Running Events (400m and 800M):

• Executive Relay 1 Gold Medal, 3 Bronze Medals, 1 4th
• Sub-Master Sprint 1 Gold Medal. 1 5th
• Pyramid Relay 1 4th

Top Meets:

• 1991 Santa Barbara (age 32) HJ 6’10”; LJ 20′ 5.25″; 400m 52.1.Two first place finishes
• 1996 San Diego (age 37) HJ 6’6″; LJ 20′ 0.25″; 400m 52.2 and 52.1. One first and two third place finishes
• 1997 San Diego (age 38) HJ 6’4″; LJ 19′ 0.25″; 400m 52.2; 800m 2:04.09 and 2:05.5
• 1999 Los Gatos (age 40) HJ 6’4″; LJ 20′ 0.05″; 800m 2:10.5 (prelims); 2:04.8 and 2:06.2 (finals)

Track & Field & Running General:

• Junior Olympic All American 1978
• Union Catholic HS HJ (6’9″) and LJ (22′) records still stand (25 years)
• 1980 Olympic Trial participant, HJ best of 7′ 1 3/4″
• Manhattan College records HJ Outdoor (still stands 23 years), HJ Indoors (broken 1997) and Indoor Pentathlon (broken in 1996)
• 6 time ICAAAA scorer
• Multiple NY and NJ Open and Collegiate HJ champion
• National USATF an Submaster HJ; 1992 2nd 6’10” (30), 1995 2nd 6’8″ (35)
• 2000 Millrose Games Masters 4x400m Silver Medal with Shore A.C. 64.7 split
• World Masters 4x800m Indoor record with Shore A.C. in 8:18.11, 2:05 split March 18, 2000
• Rich Alexander is an excellent role model. As a team captain, I would like our whole team to be made up of “Rich Alexanders”.

• Age: 47
• Team: Texas Instruments
• Years with Team: 21
• Years as a USCAA participant: 21
• Years with Company: 21+
• Professional Position: TI retiree. Now a contract engineer for a small company

Chuck Hull served on the USCAA Board of Directors, representing TI for 8 years. He organized the procedures and initial requirements for the USCAA Hall of Fame. Chuck organized the TI team for the Houston Regionals for 15 years. He won the 45-49 age group in both the 5K and 10K in 1998. He ran on three winning Executive Relay and one Masters Relay team. Chick has been a consistently performer in other events at the Nationals as well, running on the Mile Team, SubMasters Distance and Distance relays; many winning 2nd to 5th place medals.

In the last few years, Chuck has been participating in Duathlon, reaching the number one rating in the country in 1995 and 1998. He has attended two World Championships, finishing as high as 8th place in 1995. He has placed in the top three in his age group at the United States National Championships four times.

Chuck has given back to the running community In Houston by serving as the Race Director for the Richmond Library Fun Run for 14 years. He participates in about 20 races a year in the Houston area, including the famous Friday All Comers Meets that frequently draw Olympic talent.

As mentioned above, Chuck has not only organized the TI team at the Houston Regionals, he Captains the team, running his events, and any event that comes up short a runner. With Chuck’s vast track experience, he is invaluable at the National meet, helping with strategy, timing, coaching and encouragements.

Chick can always be counted upon for consistently high performances on and off the track, and to do so with the high character, class and dignity expected of a USCAA Hall of Fame member.

• Age: 41
• Team: Lockheed Martin, GE
• Years with team: 9 (GE), 6 (LM)
• Years as a USCAA participant: 15
• Years with company: 6 (GE), .5 (LM), 9 (VG)
• Professional Position: Manager of Data and Process Engineering currently for The Vanguard Group

Ron Manion ran for St. Joseph’s University and was a two-time East Coast Conference champion at 400 meters. His personal bets in college were 21.6 for the 200m, 46.8 for 400m, 1:50 for 800m. His 400m time was a school record set in 1976 that still stands today – it also missed the US Olympic Trials qualifying standard by 2-tenths of a second. Ron ran 400m relay legs at Penn Relays in 46.0 twice, and was inducted into the St Joe’s Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1985.

Ron was still running sub 50 for 400m at the age of 39, and at the age of 40 ran 22.9 in an open 200m. He still runs the Millrose Games and Penn Relays almost every year with the Philadelphia Masters Track Club.

Ron ran on General Electric’s winning 1990 team. After GE Aerospace was sold in 1993, Ron and Gordon Smith started the Martin Marietta team and got 16 people from Seattle. In 1994 Martin Marietta won the Division 1A title in Maine, and in 1996, As Lockheed Martin, won the overall Division 1 title in La Jolla.

Ron runs 200m and 400m distances in USCAA relays. He has also been on the USCAA board for three years and is a Sponsorship Committee member. Ron has run on quite a few gold medal relays, but his favorites are the 4x200m and the Sprint Relay. He ran on the 1996 Sprint Relay team that won from the slow heat, running a 22.1 for his 200m leg and in 1997 on the 4x200m team that won from the slow heat.

Ron Manion is a great role model: fleet of foot and strong of will. He will go to any lengths to get a team together and motivated to win.

• Age: 47
• Team (s): Sensata Technologies, Texas Instruments
• Years with Team(s): TI (23), Sensata (1)
• Years with Company(s): TI (23), Sensata (1)
• Years as a USCAA participant: 20
• Professional Position: Environmental Manager

As a USCAA athlete, Mike has run in almost every event that has a male 400m or 200m leg from open age group up through masters. His competitive performance in all age brackets has inspired his fellow TI athletes, as well as competitors who have become friends over the years. Mike was the team captain of the Attleboro (Massachusetts) contingent of TI, and now co-captains Sensata’s team; his persistence in team recruiting led to TI/Sensata’s participation in the New England Regional meet for the past seven years. Mike’s USCAA participation extends far beyond his team and performance at meets, however. He has also served on the USCAA Board since 2000, and recruited a new Board member from TI when his corporate affiliation changed from TI to Sensata – helping the Board gain a fresh perspective and “new blood.”

Mike’s dedication as an athlete and as a regional team captain for TI has earned him the respect and loyalty of his fellow TI athletes, as well as friends he has made within the USCAA over his decades of competition. From finding new talent to recruit for TI’s team, to encouraging Sensata’s management to fund a team early in its history as a stand-alone corporation, to serving on the USCAA Board with principled integrity, Mike has demonstrated his commitment to the USCAA over many years. In the spirit of civic responsibility, Mike has participated in numerous community organizing campaigns since graduating from college in the neighborhoods of southwest Boston where he grew up. This has included: organizing to build a pedestrian foot-bridge over a high speed rail line in the middle of a residential neighborhood; arranging for the performance of a professional stage production by Ellen Kushner, the host of NPR’s “Sound & Spirit,” on the theme of religious tolerance presented to the interfaith congregations of southwest Boston; and participating in the signature campaign for universal health care legislation in Massachusetts. Applying his professional expertise, Mike has also assisted in the environmental cleanup of “brownfields” sites to promote the re-development of abandoned urban properties as a volunteer at the Dorchester Bay Community Development Corporation.

1990 (age 30) – opening 200m of the 3 lap sprint 23.3 seconds; 4×200 prelim anchor 23.4 seconds; sprint relay 400m leg 52.7. 1991 (age 31) – 3 lap sprint anchor 400m 51.9 seconds. 1992 (age 32) – sprint relay anchor 200m 22.5 seconds. 1993 (age 33) – submasters sprint final 400m 52.4 seconds; sprint relay anchor 200m 23.1. 1996 (age 36) – submasters sprint final 400m 53.6 seconds; sprint relay anchor 200m 23.5. 1998 (age 38) – sprint relay anchor 200m 23.8. 1999 (age 39) – exec relay 400m 54.7; submasters sprint 200m 24.4. 2000 (age 40) – 4×200 lead leg 24.4; submasters sprint 200m 24.1; sprint relay 200m 23.8. 2001 (age 41) – (2) final 200m legs – 24.3, 24.1. 2002 (age 42) – (3) final 200m legs – 24.1, 24.5, 24.9. 2003 (age 43) – (2) final 200m legs – 24.3, 24.1. 2004 (age 44) – Masters relay 400m 55.8. 2006 (age 46) – 4×200 lead leg 25.7.

On and off the track, Mike is compassionate with all, dedicated to the USCAA, and a passionate believer in corporate fitness and teamwork. Mike was the driving force behind and team captain of the TI/Sensata team from Attleboro, working relentlessly to find new recruits, introduce them to the USCAA, and organize workout sessions and other activities to encourage team participation. Mike has always reached out to potential participants, personally recruiting many of the New England members of the TI and Sensata teams. As a mentor to fellow athletes and employees, he gives generously of his time to help others at all levels with their training and to encourage their participation in fitness-oriented activities.

Just ask any of his teammates over the past 20 years: they will tell you that beyond his consistently excellent running performances, Mike is a true gentleman whose kindness and thoughtfulness set a high standard for all, and whose graciousness in both victory and defeat exemplify true sportsmanship.

• Age: 57
• Team (s): Boeing
• Professional Position: Electrical Engineer

John M. Araujo was born on March 8, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. His father, Paulino, was a migrant worker from a small Mexican village west of Mexico City while his mother, Maria, was born at Simon’s brickyard (now Montebello, California) then sent back to Mexico as an infant and returned back to the US as an adult.

John is the eldest of their seven children (all born in Los Angeles), John was introduced to the world of electronics by a Cuban immigrant neighbor who served our country in World War II in the Navy in the Philippines. John earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Los Angeles and started his career with Rockwell International which was eventually bought up by Boeing. He worked on US defense programs which have, are, and will be used by the US military. After being released from Boeing due to a reduction in force, he worked with a couple of other companies also performing engineering tasks related with military defense. He now works for Teledyne Controls where he feels his vast engineering talent, experience, and knowledge was meant to be used here in the development of the next generation of commercial avionics.

His life activities to name a few include: Cub/Boy Scout, Cub/Boy Scout Leader, Holy Name Society Member, DiscoverE speaker, and Youth Motivational Task Force speaker. He has a wonderful wife with an equally delightful adult son and daughter.

Some of his favorite mantras: “I aspire to inspire.” “The best is yet to come.” Do your best.” Where there is a will, there is a way.”

His running spans from 4th grade, high school, college, corporate, open, submaster, master, to veteran levels. He has raced 50 yds to 1062 miles as part of a relay that traversed the Baja peninsula. He has run well over 1,000 running races. He considers himself a jack-of-all-running and master-of-none. His race finishes range from dead last to first, so he intimately knows the thrill of victory and the devastation of defeat.

He always run for fun and somehow good running things happen. Amongst his favorite yearly running events are the USCAA National Corporate Track and Field Championships (since 1982) and the Los Angeles Marathon (sine 1986).

• Age: 45
• Team: General Electric
• Years with Team: 12
• Years as a USCAA participant: 12
• Years with Company: 23
• Professional Position: Supply Chain Planning Leader

Carol has not only served as a national captain for the GE team for the last 8 years, she also is one of the GE’s strongest competitors running women’s sprints for the last 12 years. She also serves as an objective voice on the rules committee for USCAA. Outside of USCAA, she coached teens at track and field clinics held throughout the year in Cincinnati. She organizes a water stop during the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon supporting the hundreds of runners both physically and mentally (cup of water and a cup of encouragement!!).

Carol ran track while attending Slippery Rock College competing in 100 and 400 meter hurdles, sprints, and the heptathlon. She served as captain of the team for three years. She was also instrumental in starting the women’s cross country team which is still running strong today. Post-graduation, she is involved in volleyball, tennis, softball, soccer, skiing, and excels as an age-group winning downhill skier. But, she didn’t get back into the sport she really loved, track and field, until she heard about GE’s team participation in the USCAA meets in 1990. Carol’s performance at the USCAA Track and Field Championships are too numerous and varied to mention with USCAA record performances as part of the 4x100m Relay 1996 (3rd best USCAA), and Box Relay 1991 (end best USCAA) as highlights. She has also run as part of GE’s championship Penn Relays Corporate Distance Medley Relay team and when not running she travels to support the team in events such as the JP Chase Corporate Challenge and the USCAA Marathon Championships.

Carol is the major driver behind GE team and the success it has achieved over the last ten years. Her can-do attitude and love of the sport and the competition not only keeps her going but motivates the entire team. She is committed to the USCAA organization and its goals. She spreads her enthusiasm across the company to encourage as many people as possible throughout all divisions of the company and at all levels of abilities.

Carol is the epitome of a leader. She almost single-handedly puts the GE team together every year, a task requiring not only organizational skills but negotiation skills, influence, and commitment every day of the year across a large, diverse, and geographically dispersed company. Carol is always supportive and willing to listen to problems that runners of all abilities have and counsel them based on her long experience in the sport.

Carol puts her heart and soul into USCAA. Her commitment and enthusiasm reverberates not only through GE but beyond into the USCAA board and all the USCAA teams. She is an excellent choice for the USCAA Hall of Fame.

• Age: 41
• Team: Texas Instruments
• Years with Team: 19
• Years as a USCAA participant: 18
• Years with Company: 19
• Professional Position: Facilities Engineering Manager

This year’s sole inductee to the USCAA Hall of Fame is Paul Westbrook of Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), who is perhaps the best described as a modern-day “Renaissance man”. Paul is recognized for his myriad accomplishments both on and off the track. He is a devoted family man, a successful engineer and manager, an impressive runner, an innovative team captain, an accomplished musician, a responsible civic leader, a practicing environmentalist, and the list goes on…what’s even more amazing is that he does it all so well.

At age 41, Paul is a native of New Orleans and a 1982 graduate of LSU with a BS in mechanical engineering. For the past 19 years, he has been employed by TI where he currently serves as a Facilities Engineering Manager on the Dallas campus. Paul and his wife, Elena, have been married for 11 years and are the proud parents of an 8 eight year old daughter, Kendall.

Before joining the TI track team I 1983, Paul had no previous track experience. Nevertheless, he quickly distinguished himself as a formidable sprinter. He has competed on the TI national team for the past 18 consecutive years. In national USCAA competitions, Paul has participated on four gold medal winning teams: 1) the 1990 4x200m relay, during which Paul ran a personal record (PR) in the anchor leg and the team set a USCAA record that stood for seven years; 2) the 2000 4x100m relay; 3) the 2001 4x100m relay, which set a new national record; and 4) the 2001 Sprint Relay Team. Listed respectively, Paul’s PR in the 100m, 200m, and 400m are 10.3 in the 4x100m relay at the 1985 Dallas regional meet, 22.19 in the 4x200m at the 1990 national meet, and 50.53 in the 4x400m relay at the 1985 Dallas regional meet.

No doubt, Paul’s athletic abilities are exemplary, and he has played a vital role in TI’s history of success in national corporate cup competition, but that’s just the beginning of the story. in 1998, when TI’s long-time team captain and past USCAA Hall of Fame Rio King retired from TI, Paul stepped up to assume the daunting responsibility of managing the team. In no time Paul distinguished himself by leading TI to Division IAA national championship titles in 2000 and 2001. More importantly, though, Paul implemented organizational changed that will sustain TI track Team’s vitality for years to come. Foremost in this regard, he secured a stable source of funding within TI’s Human Resources Department through its diversity initiative. So as to ensure a succession of future leaders and to reduce reliance on any single individual he created team officer positions and successfully recruited team members to serve in various planning and organizational roles (e.g. travel, coaching, recruiting, logistics, etc.). To enhance team communications, Paul established a website that enables all TIers worldwide to participate in the team selection process. In every aspect as team captain, Paul has exercised integrity and fairness. This quality of personal character ha earned him the trust and respect of teammates and all others within the ranks of the USCAA.

If Paul’s accomplishments were only limited to his work, family, and the track team, that would be impressive enough, but truly, the list goes on. As a musician, Paul is a founding member, president, and the lead alto-sax player in the TI Jazz Band, a 20 piece ensemble that has entertained audiences around the world. One of the neat things about having a musician as team captain is the musical tributes he composes and records to recognize the team’s accomplishments.. As a civic leader, Paul serves as the vice chairman of the Fairview Parks and Recreation Board. He is a strong advocate for the many residents who want more open space and hike/bike trails. Demonstrating his commitment to youth and education, Paul has volunteered for Junior Achievement’s Project Business at several Local middle schools, and coached a “Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST)” team at the local high school. As a practicing environmentalist, Paul designed and built a passive solar home that won the 1996 National Association of Home Builders award for innovative design. In the spirit of technology transfer, Paul and Elena have opened their home to the National Tour of Solar Home and the Collin County Native Plant Tour. Over the past 5 years, more than 600 people have visited the Westbrook homestead. For more information on Paul’s varied interests, check out his personal website at www.enerjazz.com.

As further recognition of his contribution, Paul was selected to carry the Olympic Torch this past December for one segment of its journey through Houston as it made its way across the country to Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. To earn that honor, Paul was chosen by his peers within TI as the employee who best exemplified the ideals of international Olympic, competition and community leadership. With such a distinguished record of self-sacrifice and achievements, it seems only fitting that Paul should be recognized by the USCAA through induction into the Hall of Fame in this year, the 25th anniversary of Corporate Cup competition.

• Age 62
• Team: Unum

If the USCAA were to add the decathlon to the schedule, UNUM’s Judy Hairsine would be a dangerous competitor. A 22-year veteran of both the Corporate Cup Challenge and the Maine Corporate Track Association meets; Judy has proven herself in a broad range of events. Indeed, she has displayed her talents from the track to throwing circles to the jumping venues. Oh, and in case people suggest that she sleeps in to prepare for her events, Judy has also served as a volunteer in many capacities for the 5K and 10K races.

Does she get her rest during the meet? Not a chance! When she is not competing in one of her many events, Judy assists in handing out medals to the athletes, runs in the Special Olympics relays, and leads the UNUM team a Co-Chair of the Track Team Advisory Committee.

Judy has been at UNUM for only three years before she began competing with the Team. Since then, she has honed her skills in sprints, shot put, discus, high jump and long jump. She has won 36 medals at Corporate Cup Challenge meets in event ranging from Team Jump, Team Throw to the 4x100m, Master Relay, Seniors Relay and Executive Relay.

Her most memorable performance came at the 1991 meet, when she ran a 29.1 200m as a master on a gold medal team that to this day continues to remain the USCAA Division III record holders. Judy also jumped 14’6 1/4″ as a master to lead the Unum team that held the national record for years.

Besides just competing at the meets, Judy has been instrumental in leading the UNUM team. She mentors and coaches new athletes at practices and meets, and she conducts meetings, coordinates team uniform and equipment purchasing, keeps the team operating within its annual budget and works effortlessly with team members delegating fundraising and special project assignments. Under Judy’s leadership on and off the field, UNUM has won 17 State Championships.

Judy is very competitive in running and in field events, always scoring well against her age group peers. She holds nine UNUM records and is the only member in the team’s history to receive the UNUM track Team’s Most Valuable Female Award three times.

Besides just working on the UNUM team, though, Judy has consistently helped support both the USCAA and the Maine Corporate Track Association. When the Maine Corporate Track Association hosted the USCAA Corporate Cup Challenge in 1994 and in 2004, Judy was active organizing entertainment and products fairs, and she completed many other details to help the meets run smoothly.

Aside from her tremendous athletic abilities, Judy is full of life, good health and intelligence. She’s very reliable, has high standards and is a positive influence and an ultimate team player, simultaneously promoting Corporate Fitness at every level.

• Age: 54
• Team: Lockheed Martin
• Years with Team: 8
• Years as a USCAA participant: 14
• Years with Company: 19
• Professional Position: Senior Planner

Danny has enthusiastically participated in the USCAA for 14 years, serving as the Lockheed Martin National Captain in 2000 and Co-Captain in 1998 and 1999. In addition to Nationals, he is also actively involved in Regionals. He was instrumental in supporting the USCAA with the Track & Field Championships in his area in Los Gatos in 1999 and making that event a huge success. He absolutely loves the corporate relays, racing in a variety of events over the years; including the master and senior relays. He continues to volunteer to do whatever it takes to support the team, its players, and the USCAA, to include serving on an NIT committee.

Danny ran high school cross country and track, running his first sub 5-minute mile in 1965 in the last track meet of the year. For the last 20 years in a row he has run a total of 122 sub 5-minute miles. In addition to track he has run the Boston Marathon and does run occasionally in 5K road races. He heavily promotes running in his local area and participates regularly in all comers events. His contributions to Lockheed Martin and the community are endless in his pursuit to promote health and fitness in the workplace and beyond.

Danny Moon has taken his infectious love of the sport and boundless energy and transferred this to each and every member of the Lockheed Martin team. He is meticulous in his efforts to organize the best team the corporation has to offer, working every angle to get just the right combination that will produce the best possible results. He supports each participant and helps boost the necessary confidence level to the best of their abilities. In last’s year competition, our team faced many challenges. Many athletes pitched in and went the extra miles, stretching themselves beyond what they deemed possible for the good of the team. Going the extra mile exemplifies Danny Moon. He instills the desire within each of us to go above and beyond because he leads by example.

Danny is highly regarded for his unbelievable enthusiasm and support of the LM team, the USCAA, and all competitors. His passion of the sport and high energy level is unparalleled. He loves what he does, and it shows. He is always racing with a big smile. 🙂

• Age: 61
• Team: General Electric
• Years with Team: 15
• Years as a USCAA participant: 15
• Years with Company: 18
• Professional Position: Principal Engineer

Running is Peter’s Life. Anyone who has ever witnessed Peter in competition quickly realizes that he knows nothing less than 200% effort: he inspires, those around him with his dogged determination to achieve and win. Peter will never say die, even from the grave; which he will only reach in a competitive drive to run himself into the ground. Peter is, quite simple, awe-inspiring, for those who must run in his age group, and for those who feel fortunate not to have to. His performances beget legends, people tell stories about Peter and his races the way old codgers tell stories about winters in their youth. The only difference is that stories about Peter are true. He is the one of those rare “larger than life” runners who has the ability to motivate athletes of all ages through his sheer love of running and competition.

Peter Wayte has competed in many USCAA competitions through the years: 5K, 10K, 600m, 800m, 1200m, 1600m, and the marathon. He has also given a great volunteer effort during events.

Key Achievements

• USCAA record holder for the 5K and 10K in the 55-59 and 60-64 age groups
• USCAA record holder in the marathon for the 55-59 age group: 2hr 44 min
• Won the USCAA age group 5K road race 12 times
• USA National Cross Country Champion 50-54
• USA Half Marathon 50-54, and 55-59 road racing champions
• USATF Top USA Road Racing Athlete for 55-59
• Record holder for age groups between 45 and 60 for many road races in Cincinnati, Ohio

Professional Honors

• Two-time winner of the GE Aircraft Engines “Badger” Award (Top Engineer for process development)
• Several patents for inventions related to materials/process development in GE Aircraft Engines

Peter embodies raw determination (as evidenced by his photos), spirit, talent and excellence in everything he decides to achieve. He accepts nothing less than 100% effort, and leads his teammates and peers by exceptional example.

• Age: 41
• Team: Texas Instrument
• Years with Team: 18
• Years as a USCAA participant: 15
• Professional Position: Director of Web Solutions in IT Services for the Semiconductor Group

Mariquita “Skeets” Gordon joined the TI Track and Field team in 1986 and was dubbed “Rookie of the Year” by our running club newsletter. The newsletter notes that she ran 200m and 400m legs (60.7) and even threw the shot put. In what might be dubbed a rookie mistake, she did her first throw with a larger class shot. The official noted the error and gave her the right size shot which she promptly tossed 28’5″. She’s been flawless since then.

Mariquita has participated in 15 National Corporate Cup Meets. She has only missed two years due to pregnancy and two due to overseas assignments. With the exception of the above mentioned shot put foray, she has contributed primarily in the 200m and 400m distances with USCAA bests of 26.0 and 59.9. She has participated in a great variety of USCAA events; Sprint Relay, Women’s Relay, Pyramid Relay, and Executive Relay (stretched to 800m). At the regional meet in Houston in 2003 she even ran in the winning President’s Relay under the regional eligibility rule that allows direct reports to a VP to run.

Her participation on the TI Team is merely a continuation of a string of track and field success. Young Mariquita Patterson was the 1981 New York State High School 55 meter hurdle champion and set the meet record. She holds a large number of records from her high school, county, and state in the hurdles, long jump, pentathlon and shot put. She was inducted into D. Schreiber High School (Port Washington, NY) Hall of Fame in the 90’s.

Mariquita continued to excel while attending college at Harvard. She ran indoor and outdoor track for all four years and served as the Harvard Women’s Track & Field Captain for one season. She set seven Harvard University records during her career in various hurdles distances, the pentathlon, heptathlon, long jump, and 400m and 800m relay teams. She received the team MVP award twice, was the Ivy League 55 Meter Indoor Hurdle Champion, and was selected several times to the All-Ivy Track and Field Team.

Mariquita has found success in areas other than just athletics. She has enjoyed a very successful career at TI in a variety of positions. Her current job is Director of Web Solutions in IT Services for the Semiconductor Group at Texas Instruments. She reports directly to the Chief Information Officer at TI. In her early days at TI she served as President of the Texans Association, which is a non-profit branch of TI that manages our fitness center and sports leagues.

She is married with two children and her daughter is already showing signs of following in her mom’s footsteps, very fast footsteps! Her husband Mike worked at TI for many years.

Age has not slowed Mariquita down at all. She’s now in the masters category and still clocks a 28 second 200m leg and 67 second 400m. In a Dallas area open age corporate competition last year she long jumped 16’1″ to help propel the TI Team to Victory.

For the 2004 season she was elected co-captain of the TI Track and Field Team. She has worked to recruit new runners and helped coach them. She has also helped her community by providing track coaching for junior high girls in Plano, TX.

Mariquita is a good representative of what corporate athletics should be about. She has a successful career, a great family, and still finds time to keep herself in excellent physical condition. She contributes to the organization in ways that stretch well beyond running. She’s one of those people that when you are on a relay team with her, you know good things are going to happen.

• Age: 64
• Team: ExxonMobil Tigers
• Years with Company: 38
• Professional Profession: Chemical Engineer

Bob (Robert I.) Botto was born 4/22/49 in Buffalo N.Y. His dad (Melvin R.) was a chemist and Bob developed an interest in Chemistry in the fourth grade. With the help of a chemistry set and encouraged by his parents and teachers Bob learned much about the world of Chemistry before entering college at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he became a chemistry major. During college he continued to experiment in his own laboratory at home and at one point invented a solution that all made chemical light by just adding water. This was demonstrated once to a young lady and that started a form of chemistry quite difficult to predict and control. Bob and Kathy were married six years later as Bob completed his doctorate in Geochemistry at Cornell University in 1975.

Bob and Kathy moved to Baytown Texas the same year as Bob began working for Exxon Research and Engineering Company. Bob joined the ExxonMobil Baytown Chemical Plant in 1995 and was transferred to the ExxonMobil Refinery and Supply organization in Baytown in 2005. In 1987 Bob founded the Analytical Services Laboratory, a unique problem solving laboratory for ExxonMobil. Bob has published 30+ papers in the area of analytical atomic spectroscopy especially inductively coupled plasma techniques which he pioneered for the petrochemical industry.

Bob elected to retire from ExxonMobil in 2010 and now works for KiOP, a bio-fuels company in Houston. Bob was elected as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2011.

Bob continues to be active as a promoter of chemistry for kids and has led the American Chemical Society Greater Houston Section’s Community in Chemistry Committee since the mid 90’s. Each year he presents his travelling “Magic in Chemistry” show to thousands of kids.

Bob is an ultra-marathon runner and a veteran of 98 races longer than 26 miles including ten 100 mile finishes. Bob uses his long distance running ability to raise funds for cancer research at the Bay Area Relay for Life each year. Bob has run 14-16 hours straight at the Relay each year since 1999 and has personally raised over $130,000 for the American Cancer Society. Bob is Past Team Captain of the ExxonMobil Corporate Track & Field Team and a Board member of the USCAA.

Bob and Kathy raised two daughters in Texas and now have four grandchildren. Kathy is an antiques dealer specializing in communications and antique music technology. She manages the family business Vintage Sounds in Houston. The couple no longer has kids at home but their diverse interests there is plenty of chemistry going on all the time.

• Age: 45
• Team: AT&T
• Years with Team: 16
• Years as a USCAA participant: 14
• Years with Company” 17
• Professional Position: Senior Operations Analyst

One of Chris’ key contributions to the USCAA has been his coordination of the USCAA Marathon for the past six years. Chris has been the driving force behind contacting and coordinating with Marathon directors, summarizing and presenting information to the USCAA Board, and then following through with the coordination of the Marathon including awards ceremony making sure that the USCAA Marathon continues as a class event. Chris has had a small committee in some years that helped him, but he has been the key force behind the USCAA Marathon.

He has also participated in the Marathon for the last 14 consecutive years and has been the first finisher for AT&T five times, 2nd three times and third three times. He has been the third USCAA Marathon runner twice and also the fourth USCAA Marathon runner twice. He has been in the top twenty twelve times.

In addition to his Marathon participation, Chris has competed on the AT&T team at the Corporate Cup Relays eight years encompassing twenty five events. He has been a consistent scorer for the AT&T in the 5K and 10K in addition to participating in the Executive Relay and the SubMaster’s Relay for AT&T.

Key Achievements/Performance/Honors/Contributions

In addition to his participation at USCAA events, Chris was the overall winner in seven marathons, second place finisher in seven marathons and third in four marathons. He was honored with a lifetime membership in the Mid-Pacific Road Runners club based on his hard work and dedication a shown below under leadership examples.

Team Leadership Examples

In addition to coordinating the Marathon for the USCAA for the past six years, Chris has been the captain of the AT&T Marathon team for the past five years. He served on the USCAA Board of Directors, has volunteered at the USCAA Track and Field meets and helped institute the age-graded scoring system of the marathon. He served as President of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club, the largest running club in Hawaii, and significantly increased the membership base, improved the race schedule with a task force that created a very successful readiness race series leading up to the Honolulu Marathon, and improved the club finances during his tenure. He was honored with a lifetime membership in the club for his hard work and dedication.

Chris is one of those team members who lead by example. Once he has accepted a project, he takes ownership and completes the project. In addition, Chris has been very specific about obtaining input from the participants. He has implemented voting by the runners at the marathon so that when the USCAA Board votes, they have a good sense of where the participants want to go.

• Age: 55
• Team(s): CIGNA (15), Aerospace (5)

Anyone who claims to remember a USCAA track meet that didn’t include Sandra Berkner has a really good memory. This is partly because she has been a regular fixture at the meets since 1990, but it’s also because she has been so visible at the meets for most of that time.

On the track, in the stands, or at the party, Sandra can always be seen organizing, helping, and doing whatever needs to be done.

Originally a competitive swimmer in college, she traded goggles for soccer cleats before exchanging those for spikes. She discovered her love of running while training for soccer, but she switched completely to the track when she became a mother.

In 1990 Sandra switched her focus from her involvement with the CT Women’s Soccer League to the CIGNA Track Team and the USCAA. She was a co-captain of CIGNA for 15 years, helping to grow the team to more than 80 participants at his peak, and she became more and more familiar with the USCAA.

Her knowledge and ability off the track, coupled with her failure to deny challenge, led to her becoming the treasurer of the USCAA, a Rules Committee member, and an NIT committee member. As the treasurer, Sandra turned the organization from one that was losing money every year into one with a viable stable financial future.

On the track, Sandra has also been a strong athlete participant. She was a competitive preliminary runner for CIGNA and enabled her relays to make the finals. When CIGNA reduced funding, Sandra drafted for Unum, Bank North and finally Aerospace.

After more than five years with Aerospace, Sandra remains an important member of both her individual team and the USCAA for a variety of reasons. As an older female runner, she rounds out the Aerospace roster and has made it possible for many of their relay teams to compete and place. For the organization, she has been tireless in her support of all teams and is always eager to solicit volunteers to help keep the meet running.

No matter where she turns up during the weekend, Sandra is an integral part of the Corporate Cup Championships. Whether she is helping her own team using her legs or helping others by using her heart and her head; the meets would not be same without her.

• Age: 49
• Team(s): Booz Allen Hamilton, Martin Marietta, General Electric
• Years with Team(s): BAH (3), MM (2), GE (8)
• Years with Company(s): BAH (3), MM (2), GE (12)
• Years as a USCAA participant: 13
• Professional Position: Software Engineer