Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced thatformer men's cross country runner and track and field athlete DavidStafford will be the newest inductee into the FMU Athletic Hall ofFame on Feb. 17, 2007.
A native of Hanahan, Stafford was a member ofthe inaugural Patriot cross country squad in 1976, missed the 1977season with an injury, and ran again in 1978. He was also amember of the FMU track and field team for four years(1976-79).
He earned the B.S. degree in sociology in 1980 and now residesin Summerville. He has been employed by Federal Express since1983.
Each of his years on the cross country squad, he was named theteam most valuable player, won the NAIA District Six individualchampionship (time of 26:15 in 1976 and 25:32 in 1978), was namedto the All-District Team, and helped the Patriots to the DistrictSix team title. As a senior, he set the FMU course recordwith a time of 25:34.
On the track, he earned team most valuable player honors twice(1976 and 1978) and helped Francis Marion to a four-year teamrecord of 86-18. The Patriots finished second at the DistrictSix championship meet in 1977 and 1978 and placed fourth in1976.
He was named to the All-District track and field squad in 1979for his accomplishments in the 880-yard dash and as part of themile relay team. By the end of his junior year, he held fourschool records: 880-yard dash, mile run, 3-mile run, and 6-milerun. His record time of 4:17.2 in the mile run still standstoday. Ten years after he graduated, he still stood fourth onthe all-time FMU track and field points list with388.
