In 2011 Dr. Art Mollen created the Arizona Runners Hall of Fame to honor and memorialize the outstanding achievement and contributions of distinguished individuals to the running community of Arizona.
This year Lois Drinkwater, 68, was one of the inductees. Lois competed in the 1968 Olympics while still a student at Phoenix Central High School in Arizona. She also represented the U.S. in an indoor dual against West Germany in 1969. She later attended Wooster College, running track there for their first team in the 1970 indoor season, and represented the Phoenix Track Club. Drinkwater won the 1968 AAU Indoors at 400 meters. She was second at that meet in 1969, and also placed second in 1968 in the 400 at both the AAU and Olympic Trials.
Also inducted into the hall of fame this year were Lisa Aguilera, Harvey Beller and Dennis Poolheco. Previous years’ honorees who have been inducted “for their quintessential commitment to the health and well-being of the Arizona community” are: Susan Loken, Bruce Skinner, George Young, Kathy Gibbons Jackson (posthumously), William S. Levine, Ed Mendoza, Steve Scott, Sally Ann Whitney, Herman Frazier, Jesse Owens (posthumously), Lynn Nelson, David Barney, Fred Moore, Sally Meyerhoff (posthumously), Trina Painter and Dr. Tom Miller.
