New track, named for Bill Falk’s late wife, to be formally dedicated
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
5 July – – Next Monday (July 11) in Narragansett, another chapter in the decades-long career of teacher, coach, businessman and philanthropist Bill Falk will reach an exclamation point when the high school’s new eight-lane track is dedicated in the name of Coach Falk’s late wife, Grace. (Mrs. Falk passed away in 2013. The couple were married 59 years.)
“My wife would like that,’’ said Coach Falk, a long-time Narragansett resident. “She was very civic-minded. She’d enjoy the naming of the track for her. I’ve had enough things named after me.’’
The Grace Falk Track ceremony, with the coach’s family in attendance, takes place at 5 p.m., followed – quite fittingly – by the first of four weekly Youth Track Series events.
Good works continue with new track taking shape
While the dedication ceremony may be analogous to a punctuation mark in the narration of Bill Falk’s rich life story, the saga continues. The 88-year-old mentor is an important presence in the world of track and field in Rhode Island. Initial planning for the high school facility began five years ago.
“The track was the primary push from the start, back in 2011,’’ said Brian Mc Neiece, who coaches cross country at North Kingstown and track at Narragansett. “Initially, my wife Tammy (Narragansett School Committee chair) planned to apply for a bond in the 2012 election,’’ Mr. Mc Neiece said. “But it was clear that the environment wasn’t right for the project, as she suspected it might be rejected due to the poor economy. So though the school department, she launched a needs assessment, followed by a capital campaign project that would include all sports.
“It’s a wonderful set-up,’’ Coach Falk said of the new facility.
“During the capital campaign, we were invited to meet with Bill,’’ Brian Mc Neiece said. “Bill . . . has a history of helping with community projects. His very generous gift enabled us to include eight lanes around the entire track, as opposed to a hybrid. This was something that was very important to Bill, as he wanted to honor his wife with a first-class facility.’’
Notable achievements of a modest man
Bill Falk is no ‘horn-tooter’. “I try to contribute to high schools when I can,’’ he said simply. “I feel that track made me.’’
Yet his tutelage has benefitted countless athletes. A virtual sensei in the realm of pole vaulting, he assists M-F vaulting coaches Mark, James and Steve Strawderman in conducting camps and clinics. He also works with collegiate vaulters at URI and Brown, and is always present at the State Meet pole vault runway.
The camp’s benefits are not lost on young competitors.
“The pole vault camp has been the foundation of my success,’’ said Smithfield High incoming senior Alexandra Guertin. “Before, when I only had one set of eyes on me, I was jumping 7-6,’’ said Guertin. “Weeks later, I got third in the state with a PR of nine feet. The coaches are so incredibly nice and helpful.’’
“For many years, track and field athletes in Rhode Island have benefited from the coaching and generosity of Bill Falk,’’ said Tom Mezzanotte, the Interscholastic League’s executive director. “We are grateful for all he has done for this great sport.’’
Love of track leads to a track-related business
A Brown University graduate with a Masters from Columbia, Mr. Falk in 1952 began full-time teaching and coaching track at Attleboro (Mass.) High School. Within three years his team won a state crown. Nineteen fifty-six found Coach Falk in Providence at his alma mater Hope High School teaching and coaching track coach. He piloted Blue Wave teams to six successful seasons, with athletes such as throwers as Bob Gourey (current Barrington High coach) and Al Santio, and sprinters Lummer Jennings and Harvey Franklin. His teams captured four indoor titles, and five consecutive outdoor titles. For 18 seasons Coach Falk worked at URI, and was named New England Coach of the Year five times. He piloted the careers of five All-Americans.
In 1960, together with Brown University trainer Jack McKinnon, Coach Falk founded M-F Athletics, marketing molded heel supports. “I must have typed out ten thousand post cards to coaches,’’ Coach Falk said. Eight years later, M-F debuted its first track equipment catalogue. It’s now the country’s top track equipment supplier.
When asked to assess his six-plus decades in track and field, Coach Falk was his usual low-key self. “It’s just what I do,’’ he said. “I’m just a track coach who got lucky in business.’’