Many of you on these boards enjoyed the posts from Orville Atkins, one of the original Mihaly Igloi athletes here in Southern California and his observations about that training. Orville was an accomplished runner himself, placing fifth at Boston Marathon and being third in the Canadian Olympic Trials in the marathon (Canada only took two then).
Orville enjoyed talking about training with Bruce Kidd and later, with the original Santa Monica Track club.
He was an encyclopedia of running knowledge, so much so that it was really pretty amazing. He attended every Olympics and World Championships from 1964 to 2012.
We were trying to keep him healthy enough to attend Tokyo in 2020, but it was not to be.
His health deteriorated in the last year rather quickly and then he fell down, breaking his hip. Parkinson's then caused a spasm issue with his throat (which is apparently common) and he had trouble eating and drinking toward the last week.
I am administering his will. He does not wish any formal funeral or any memorial, which was Orville - never one to seek attention or sympathy.
He will be missed on these boards, but I'm sure he'll find someone to talk running upstairs.
Orville Atkins, RIP, 1937 - 2018
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Very sad news. RIP Mr. Atkins
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Greg,
I trained with Orville in the early 1970s with Joe Douglas and the Santa Monica Track Club. I traveled to the Boston Marathon with Orville in 1974. We got together a couple of times ten years ago when my mother was still living in Santa Monica. A real gentleman and supporter of the sport. He help fund Henry Rono’s masters track attempts back in 2006. We continued to exchange emails over the years. He will be missed.
Reid Harter -
I love going back and reading his contributions to the Igloi threads, his stories were really wonderful and thoughtful and well written
RIP I hope the best for his family and friends -
One of the stalwart old guard of LRC, along with Ed W. May they both RIP (Run In Peace).
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Mr. Orville was one of the Best posters ever. I never met him, but I will miss him
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Shhhoooooot Greg...thanks for the update...bums me out...was a neat human being...and what a great track memory/mind...enjoyed my communications with him immensely.
R.I.P. friend
best
MF -
Oh damn that’s too bad. His contributions on this board were always positive and interesting. He carried himself as a real gentleman. Either he didn’t understand that the Internet is supposed to bring out your bad side, or he just wasn’t having any of that. :-)
RIP Orville! I hope the running is grand wherever you are today. -
Enjoyed his posts very much. I was able to provide him with a gem of information on Mihaly Igloi that I found 20 years ago. My honor to send it to Orville. The sport just lost a humble man.
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I've never met the guy, only read his insightful posts on here. Sorry for your loss.
Run in peace -
Oh man. Sorry to hear this. I enjoyed his posts.
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lmb wrote:
Mr. Orville was one of the Best posters ever. I never met him, but I will miss him
Yes, definitely. My thoughts exactly. -
Mr. Orville was one of the Best posters ever. I never met him, but I will miss him
agree completely - so much knowledge, humility and graciousness -
Orville was a long striding standout.
Great pictures of him in the early Runners World's and T&FN.
He will be missed. -
Pete wrote:
Oh damn that’s too bad. His contributions on this board were always positive and interesting. He carried himself as a real gentleman. Either he didn’t understand that the Internet is supposed to bring out your bad side, or he just wasn’t having any of that. :-)
RIP Orville! I hope the running is grand wherever you are today.
Best post of this thread !
Was wondering why he was not responding to threads the last two years .
We lost a great one . RIP OA !!!! -
1962 Boston Marathon
Eino Oksanen captured the last of his three Boston wins with a 2:23:48 performance on a cold and rain-soaked afternoon. Oksanen finished one minute, 10 seconds ahead of countryman Paavo Pystynen (2:24:58) after taking the lead from him near Boston College. John J. Kelley finished fourth, nearly five minutes behind Oksanen.
1. Eino Oksanen (FIN) 2:23:48
2. Paavo Pystynen (FIN) 2:24:58
3. Alexander Breckenridge (VA) 2:27:17
4. John J. Kelley (CT) 2:28:37
5. Orville Atkins (CAN) 2:31:49
6. Erki Kaunitso (MA) 2:32:26
7. George Terry (CT) 2:32:48
8. Allen Hull, Jr. (MA) 2:33:01
9. Richard Haines (DC). 2:33:09
10. Larry Damon (MA) 2:34:05 -
Orville was a gift to Lets Run. We communicated often and he sent me the Bruce Kidd video about 3 years ago. I knew he was not doing well, but I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. RIP my friend.
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Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. I only knew him via his LRC posts, but, as many others have already said, his posts were always informed, polite, and of great interest.
From what I know about him, he was a very nice person, had a great life, and will be missed. I know Letsrun will be the lessor for his absence.
RIP. -
Ghost of Igloi wrote:
https://runwestchester.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/some-marathoning-history-orville-atkins/
Thank you Iggy.
RIP (run in peace) Orville. You are missed already.
