The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-16
ny HARRY GRAYsON
NEA Service Sports Editor

pIAoAAABV 4AstAG 4kho UCGu W1AtIGJl
about him.
Whatever the issue, Ferris Is the
fellow who sees that the athlete
obtains q square shake. He believes
amateur athletics should be admin
istered for the athlete-not for the
fellow who wears q badge.
From his desk high in the tow
ering Woolworth building, over
looking lower Manhattan, Ferris
has been the detail genius Of the
Amateur Athletic Union and a
wheelhorse in American Olympic
games affairs. Since 1927, he has
been officially the secretary-treas-
urer Of The far-flung organization.
For several years before that,
an assistant to Fred w. Ruben, he
directed the business office virtu-
ally as he does now. A. A. q.
presidents come and 60, but gray
haired, srnartly spruced Dan Fer
ris, 1evel-headed, soft-spoken and
walking encyclopedia Of track
and field, apparently goes on for
ever.
WAS 1WsSEVVgNW MAkAN
FOR IRISH-AMERICAN A. c.
A native New Yorker who was
so years old last July z, Ferris
got his initial A. "A. U. experience
as q sprinter.
Competing first for the Loughlin
Eyceum in 1909 and later for the
famous IriSh-Americal Athletic
Club, he was clicked in 10 seconds
for the 100 and ten seconds still
wins first place in q lot Of meets,
even If some of the phenomenons
do knock off Q 3-5 occasionally.
When Ferris was with them IN
1914. the Irish-Americans were the
most all-conquering, swash- buckling
collection of track and field athletes
ever put together. Lawson Robert
son drilled such stars as Abel Kiviat,
Jack Eller, George Bonhag, Mel
Sheppard, Pat Ryan and Matt Nc
Grath.
One Of the renowned Pennsylvania
and Olympic coach's biggest Jobs
was to keep the weight-heaving
whales, Ryan and McGrath. from
eating their way through even the
most liberal expense accounts.
While wearing Irish-American A.
G. colors, Ferris obtained employ
ment in the ONCE Of James e. Sui
Ivan, early directing head Of the A.
A. u, and the most honored name
in its history. First as a stenogra-
pher. later as secretary, Ferris
made himself invaluable to Mr.. Sui
Ivan.
It was with Mr.. Sullivan and
Dan to this day never speaks Of him
as anything but Mr.. Sullivan-that
Ferris made his first trip to the
Olympic Games in Stockholm in
1912. He has not missed o set Of
olympic Games since.
FERRIS TAKES OVER
DUTIES FROM RUBEN
Mr.. Sullivan died In 1914 and was
succeeded as secretary-treasurer by
F. w. Ruben.
Aside from his interest in athlet-
les, Ruben was a busy man. The
result was that more and more du-
ties devolved upon the shoulders Of
the maturing Ferris. From 1920,
when A. A. U. sport In this country
experienced its great boom, Ferris
was becoming more and more active
in the administration Of the organi-
zation's head ONCE.
When he finally succeeded Ruben
officially in 1927, the routine was
altered in almost no way whatever.
Ferris continued to reach his ONCE
at 8 q. m. every day, pile through
the endless chain Of permits and
sanctions, coordinate the various
activities Of the different sections,
advise on schedules, and act as liza
son ofiiced between the A. A. q. and
sports writer's.
Ferris has sat through more
squabbles and sent more angry peo-
pie away smiling or satisfied than
any other individual in sports dis
tory.
FIRST OLYMPICS GAVE
HIM HIS BIGGEST THRILL
He has been a member of the
American olympic Committee since
1924. In an organization never noted
for tranquility, Ferris hasn't single
enemy. He has disagreed with plenty
Of people. He has been in the center
of countless controversies, notably a |
historic one in the middle '20's be-
tween the A. A. U. and the National
collegiate Athletic association.
Charles w. Paddock, then the
Fastest Human and chap to whom i
the gift Of self-publicizing was ma
tural one, figured prominently in
one Of those brushes between the
major bodies. But none, including
Charley Paddock, will say Dan Fer
ris Is unfair.
Ferris got his biggest athletic |
thrill in his first Dummies the 1010 |