New Britain herald., 1930-04-29
By w. b. GRIFFITH (Dircctor of Ohio RclayS)


 The entry of George Simpson into the sport which has brought him na- tion-widc fame was moro or less an accident and his debut on the cinder path was inauspicious. Like many other school boys, he cntcrtajned hopes of becoming a star in football, basketball and baseball. In fact, these sports occupied almost all of his time.
 The 1923 baseball season of the Columbus schools was nearing the end when George read of d junior high school track meet 10 be held in conjunction with the city high school meet at Ohio State university. He de- tcrmined to run in the contests and, since there was no equipment at his school, he bought spiked shoes and got out his basketball suit to wear.
 With his ability to place in this new sport-hc ran second in the cen- tury in 10.S seconds and fourth in
 
 g sccondS-therc came encourage mcnt and a determination to report for track at East high the next year.
 Greatest Thrill From Grid Game
 Sim pson'S love for football, which was still evident last fall when he reported to Coach Sam Willamans Ohio State varsity squad, netted him three letters as halfback at East high. The greatest thrill he ever re- ceived from sports was not when he shattered the record for the century but when he was rushed into a high school football game in the closing minutes and caught a long forward pass for a touchdown that brought victory to East high.
 During 1924 and 1925, the per formances of Simpson were but those of the average high school sprinter and not until 1926 did the shadow of the Ohio Express begin to creep across tho record book.
 He started his long series of sprint achievements by winning the 50 yard dash of the Michigan inter- scholastic indoor meet i'll 5.5 seconds, national record. On the outdoor track in the spring. he continued to pile up marks. He turned the cen tury of the state interscholastic in 9.S seconds and the furlong in c1.7 seconds. Throughout the season, his marks remained consistently at 10 flat or better. And so consistent has the Ohio boy been since that time that on only two occasions-a pre- liminary heat at the Rice relays when the field was facing a strong wind and again at the Penn relays in 9oS with the track ankle deep in 1nud-has he failed 10 'brcak' 10 seconds.
 Culminatine his scholastic career, Simpson sta scd one of the most bril- liant performances of all time at intcrscholastic. He ran in the anchor position of his sprint relay team that finished ahead of an unusually fast field. He won the 100 yard dash and the 220, cdualing the national record of 9.S seconds in the century and turning in sensational 21S seconds in the furlong. And the mark of 45.5 seconds for the 40 yard relay. which still stands in the record books. was greatly due to the run ming Of George Simpson.
 Broke Frosh Sprint Records I,cI, ] signed to improve his form and con- serve his speed for varsity competi- | ton was given the Columbus boy when he entered the state university 1 in the fall. Even this did not keer | him from establishing new yearlns marks of ?.S and 2l.4 seconds in the | century and furlong.
 1 The close of the school year saw i Simpson break into major" con- l petition for the first time. To say i that he broke in is putting it mildly In the district A. A. |. champion | ships at Cincinnati, the Ohio State 1 freshman won the 100 yard dash ir 1 ?.6 seconds, equaling the recognized worlds record that had first been sci back in 1906 by Kelly of Oregon.