Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2005 Charles Runge Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2005

Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as an individual of Central High School

Biography Chuck Runge was a 1957 DeWitt DeHawk graduate.  As noted in several newspaper articles from 1957, Football and Track Coach Harold Birney is quoted as saying, “As far as I’m concerned Chuck Runge is the greatest athlete to come out of DeWitt.”  Chuck Runge was an outstanding athlete for the DeHawks earning 4 Varsity letters in Track, 3 in Football, and 2 in Basketball.  The 1956 Football team was undefeated and Chuck earned several recognition awards during and following that season.  Chuck was not just a good track athlete; he was one of the best in the state of Iowa.  He set more than 25 individual and relay records over his track career.  He broke the conference long jump record 3 times.  In 1957 at the State Indoor Track meet he won and set a state record in the long jump and tied for first in the 440-yard dash.  At the Illowa outdoor conference meet he won 4 events and set conference records.  At the 1957 State Outdoor Track meet, he won and set a record in the long jump, won the 440 yard dash, anchored the 880 relay to 3rd place, and anchored the mile relay to second place.  The team won the State Indoor and Outdoor Track titles.  In 1957, Chuck Runge was undefeated in the long jump, broke indoor and outdoor records, and was a Drake Relays Champion.

Article from the Observer Following the 1957 state track meet, DeWitt High School track coach Harold Birney said of 2005 Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Runge, “Runge is the greatest athlete to come out of DeWitt.” I never had the good fortune to know Birney, but from what I understand, it wasn’t the best idea to disagree with him. So I won’t. If 2003 Central Hall of Fame inductee Birney said Runge is the best athlete to come out of DeWitt, it’s probably a good bet he was. He certainly has the credentials to back up Birney’s claim. During his DeHawk career he earned nine varsity letters – four in track, three in football and two in basketball. He was a twotime All-Eastern Iowa selection in football and a third-team all-state pick in 1956. Twice, he was selected to the Clinton Herald Honor Roll which recognized one area athlete a week and on another occasion he was named the Des Moines Register’s statewide Prep of the Week. As a senior, he led the state in total offense, accounting for 1,463 yards in eight games. Of that total, 1,157 came on 111 rushes – an average gain of 10.4 yards every time he carried the ball. He also averaged 34 yards per pass completion and scored 15 touchdowns. In basketball, he was a second-team all-conference player as a senior.

The Observer (cont.) A very talented football and basketball player, track is where he really excelled. During his varsity career, he set 25 individual or relay records. At the 1957 state indoor meet he won the long jump and ran the fastest 440 time. At the 1957 Illowa Conference meet he entered four events; he won four events; and he set records in four events – the long jump (21-11.75), the 440 (51.7), the 220 (22.7) and the 100 (10.0). At the state outdoor meet he won two gold medals; one with a record-setting leap of 22- 0.5, and the other with a time of 51.1 in the 440. In addition, he anchored the third-place 880-relay team and the second-place milerelay team. Runge was so dominant as a sprinter on the track, it wasn’t until the 2005 track season that his school record in the 200 was broken. In these days of weight training, better nutrition, supplements and the opportunity to run on state-of-the-art surfaces instead of loose cinder tracks, it is a testament to his immense talent the record stood for almost 50 years. After graduating from DeWitt, Runge took his football talents to Iowa State where he received an athletic scholarship to play for the Cyclones. Unfortunately during spring practice of his freshman season he injured his back, ending his gridiron playing days.

The Observer (cont.) While recuperating in the hospital the Iowa State track coach visited him and offered him a spot on the track team. He ran track for the Cyclones for three years competing in the long jump as well as in all of the sprint events. During his college days, Runge earned a third-place finish in the long jump at the Big 8 conference meet. Following his graduation, Runge remained in Ames. Several years later he and his wife, the former Marilyn Christensen of Calamus, packed up all their belongings and headed west for California, eventually settling in Sunnyville, in the heart of Silicon Valley. There they raised a pair of daughters, Michelle and Dawn, and a son, Jay. At last count Chuck and Marilyn have seven grandchildren.