The Washington times., 1928-05-25

VINO live III u JWO-AVUAh 49, -
going over a rough wagon roac
The farm il located not far from
CIaremore, Okla, home OF WIN
Roxers well.known comedian.
Mrs. Payne says the Derby y
bothering her more than It =
her son. She sleeps but little these
nights. thinking Of her son wnom
she feels IS inadeduately prepared
to make q strong finish.
"Why. he IL only a Dboy, sne
exclairns. che was twenty last
December 81, and here he - rum
ming along with mature men VINO
have been in other long races pc
fore. / don't see how he has stood
He. That's why / was so anxious
for his father to be with him
during the race. He will see to IT
that Andy doesn't take 1t too
hard"
Andy was always 3 rather
quiet sort OF boy, according to
his friends and neighbOrs.
He wasn't exactly bashful. but
he never felt wholly at home in
the presence of girls who were his
own age He was just a fair
mixer, preferring to spend his
time reading. He was graduated
from the Foyil High School 4 year
ago and while q student there
was q member OF the track team.
Despite the lack OF facilities and
good coaching, Andy developed into
| a fair distance runner. He spe.
cialized in the half mile and mile
runs, and while he never won a
race, he usually won points and
was hardly ever winded at the
close Uf the races.
The $25, 900 which Andy hopes to
win Ly finishing In first place
! Saturday win mean everything in
the world to the Paynes. They
have never had any too mucn
money and a series of misfortunes
/ has kept them impoverished.
Two years ago their farm
home was burned to the ground
and they have since been living
In a temporary twO-rOOm house,
which is too cold in the winter
and too warm I'm the summer.
1 Andy il the oldest of the large
| family of children. Hensal, 10, is
taking care Of the farm now that
his older brother and father are at
the race. Mary, is; Faye, IA;
Pauline, 8. and Charles, s. are at
tending school, while the baby, Will
Rogers Payne, now 5 years old, is
running around the house every. day,
initiating his older brother.
When Andy first read in the news
papers that there would he cross
country derby, he was Immediately
interested. He recalled that he was
never winded even after the hardest
sort of a mile race In high school.
and he dreamed of what SIS. 000
might mean to his family. He did
a little investigating, and found out
| that 1t would take money to enter
the race.
For = while he was stumped
until some one suggested that NE
ask one of the chambers of COM
mercA for support.
He visited half a dozen in neigh.
boring towns, but only the Claremore
Chamber of Commerce would give
him anv help. With money they
furnished him, Andy started training
by running to Los Angeles, the
starting point. He ran every step OF
the way, despite the fact that he
was traversing the toughest and
most treacherous part Of the race.
When the runners were started
he was easily in the best condition
of them all and kept right up with
the leaders. although he didn't know
any of the running tricks. He
doesn't know anything about run
ming. and admits it, but is in good
condition, never abuses himself
watches the other runners and car
take advice.
Andy's father left the farm to join
his son when it became apparent he
stood a chance to get into the prize
money and has been with him ever
since. Andy swept into the lead
when the caravan entered Oklahoma
from Texas and he has been first OF
second ever since.
Oklahomans eagerly call their
newspaper offices every afternoon
for Information on Andy. News
paper offices say they are answering
almost as many phone calls about
the foot derby as they did during a
world baseball series.
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