RIP Bob Fraley

[HanSenSE]

In memoriam, Bob Fraley: 1937-2025 - Fresno State

Carried the torch, so to speak, for track and field in the San Joaquin Valley for many years, not only as a coach at Fresno State, but also the "Run for the Dream" indoor meet, held around MLK Day, and the North American Pole Vault Championships in the streets of Clovis during August. Greatest claim to fame may have been when he "retired" as Fresno State's coach, with his salary going to keep the program alive.

Was always a great resource when a track and field question came up and it usually ended up with him telling me stories about Dutch Warmerdam (look him up, kids!), who he adored.

 

[Gym Beam]

In memoriam, Bob Fraley: 1937-2025 - Fresno State

Carried the torch, so to speak, for track and field in the San Joaquin Valley for many years, not only as a coach at Fresno State, but also the "Run for the Dream" indoor meet, held around MLK Day, and the North American Pole Vault Championships in the streets of Clovis during August. Greatest claim to fame may have been when he "retired" as Fresno State's coach, with his salary going to keep the program alive.

Was always a great resource when a track and field question came up and it usually ended up with him telling me stories about Dutch Warmerdam (look him up, kids!), who he adored.

Bob was a marvelous coach and promoter. He did so much for the pole vault in the U.S.

 

[maumann2]

Bob DiGrazia, more famous for being Cal's soccer coach, was our eighth grade PE teacher in Walnut Creek. Every week, we'd participate in a "track meet" named after one of the major events, like the Penn Relays, Cal Invitational and West Coast Relays.

We didn't do the field events other than the high jump, long jump and triple jump -- I imagine the school district frowned upon 12- and 13-year-olds throwing javelins and pole vaulting -- but he'd make up teams and we'd have individual champions in each event.

I'm certain Coach DiGrazia was well aware of Bob Fraley's love of the sport and made sure we loved it, too. As a bonus, on rainy days, he'd show old English League soccer films long before I knew what a West Ham United was.

RIP to both men.