V 5 N 33 Untimely Death of Ron Stapleton, U. of Cincinnati All American

I received this email from Coach Bill Schnier (1980-2013) about the death of a former Bearcat Cross Country All American in Southern California this weekend.  Even though I never knew Mr. Stapleton nor anything about his exploits, I feel that this blog is a place to remember people who have been a part of our sport and done positive things for it.   Our sympathies go out to his family.  GB

 This article, together with a phone call yesterday from Chuck Hunsaker, announces the death of Ron Stapleton in a car accident on Friday in California.  He was rear-ended by another car whose driver was suspected of texting at the time.  

   Ron was an All-American cross country and track runner at UC in the 1970s as well as a team captain and leader of his teams.  His highest cross country place was 23rd in the 1971 NCAA Cross Country Championships making him UC's first All-American in either cross country or track and field.  In addition, he qualified for the NCAAs in track in 1972 (indoor mile, outdoor 5,000 meters) and 1973 (indoor mile, outdoor 3 mile).  He is still the UC record holder in the mile run, 3 mile run and was the UC record holder for 5,000 meters upon his graduation in 1972.  In 2013 he was inducted into the University of Cincinnati James P. Kelly Athletic Hall of Fame.

   Bill Schnier

Ron Stapleton (Left) at his 2013 induction into the U. of Cincinnati Hall of Fame
along with Julie Dupont Fitzgerald, Kenyaon Martin, and Gino Guidugli

An Orange County man was killed in a collision on I-15 in Eastvale on Friday, April 17, California Highway Patrol and Riverside County Coroner's officials said.

A white van and a white pickup truck collided about 9:42 a.m. on the northbound side south of the Highway 60 interchange, a CHP incident log said.� About six vehicles total got involved in the crash, creating a pileup and temporarily closing at least two lanes, the log said.

The coroner identified the victim as Ronald Stapleton, 63, of Laguna Hills.

Phil Scott just sent this about Ron

Al Lanier and Ron were buddies. He was our grad assistant my first year at u.c. He lived just few floors up from me in Scioto. Ronnie was a fun guy and real influence in a positive way when I needed. Wow just talked to a man Sat. who had Mentor H. S. JACKET on. (Ron's HS?). He knew of this running legend there. Wow David Stanton followed Ron  around like a pup. He told Ronnie he was going to break the steeple chase record first time he was to run it. Ronnie said go to the front stay out of trouble and you're full of crap if you think you  can break the  record. Dave broke the record, he was not full of crap, he went to front never looked back. Like a 9.04??? At MTSU (Middle Tennessee State U.)1974.