Alvo L. "Bill" Martin (Track, 1924-26)
Bill Martin ranked as one of the great middle distance runners in the United States in the mid-20's. In 1924, Martin was part of Northwestern's one-mile relay team that captured the Big Ten outdoor championship. Martin placed in the 1925 NCAA Championships in the mile but his biggest year came in 1926. As captain of the Wildcats, Martin won the Big Ten indoor half-mile title in 1:57.9. He also won the banker's mile at the Broadway Armory in 4:25.6 and was on the two-mile relay team that won the event at the nationally renowned Kansas Relays. At the Big Ten outdoor championships, Martin took second in the mile in a driving finish.
Long-time NU Sports Information Director Walter Paulison describes Martin's greatest moment at Northwestern. "In the NCAA Championships at Soldier Field in Chicago, Martin captured the half-mile over a rain-soaked track in the announced time of 1:51.7, eight-tenths of a second faster than the recognized world record. A re-measurement of the track showed the course to be 23 feet and 8 inches short, a circumstance which cost Martin a probably meet record."
Martin's name remained at the top of the Northwestern's record book for quite some time. His half-mile mark stood 24 years until 1950. Martin is retired and makes his home in Tucson, Arizona.
