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Passing of Bob Loney (Upland HS) long-time Coach

Vet SS mentor passes on at 73

 

 

 


 

Track & Field spikes 'Open House' Sale: Try 'em on and buy 'em on the spot!
At the SpringCo building in Torrance on March 13


Passing of Upland’s Bob Loney

Sad news this week of the passing of former Upland HS Cross-Country and Track and Field coach Bob Loney at age 73. Bob was among the most successful coaches in the state over the last half century, with a 42 year career at Upland that resulted in 34 League titles and four Section Championships. An interestingly direct personality, Bob always spoke from the hip in a way that was refreshing and I think kind of struck to the core of the young people that he came in contact with. His teams came to run hard and were fearless competitors. Some of his groups at the two mile distance during the 1970's were probably among the best ever in Southern California history. I remember some two milers in the 10-flat range who were not even a part of his top seven varsity during his best seasons.

We had some early contact with Bob way back around 1970 when the first team we ever coached, at Webb School in Claremont, was blessed with athletes like a 4:19/9:25 junior, 4:33 junior, 4:47 freshman, etc. Bob was looking for some competition for Gordon Innes, who would run 8:54.4 for two miles that year, and so he put in a call to us about a cross-country meet in mid-season. We traveled over to Upland, a few miles away, and Denis Cuff, the 4:19 runner, stayed with Gordon for about a mile and a half of the two mile campus course, and Loney achieved his purpose for that week for Gordon and the team. We spent decades after that enjoying Bob’s personality, the competitive nature of his teams, and contributions timewise to young people and the sport.

Bob Krcyzko (30:38 6 mile 1973), Steve Scott (1:52.0 800 1974 and American Record Holder in the mile at 3:47), Don (4:13.89 mile 1981) and Phil (4:14.06 mile 1981) Orr, and Jim Cera (9:14.80 3200 1993) were the nationally ranked top end athletes of a program that rolled along with super quality over a number of decades. Individuals like Scott always spoke very appreciatively of Coach Loney’s efforts, with Scott a baseball pitcher talked into the harrier course and around the track by the relentless mentor who saw a special running talent in the Upland HS student. The Orr brothers took the lead in setting up a scholarship fund under Coach Loney’s name that is now up to $26,000 in supporting Upland HS students.

I is our understanding that the service for Mr. Loney will be Sunday, 3/14/04, 1:00 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 5354 Haven, Alta Loma. The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to the Robert J. Loney Scholarship Fund, 4680 Granada Ave., Riverside, CA, 92504. Cards can be directed to the family at 696 W. 21st Street, Upland, 91784.

It would sure be nice if someone had a pre-existing award in the greater Inland Empire area that they would re-name in Bob’s name. He would do the winner’s of each year’s award very proud to have come in his wake. The bleachers and running courses and tracks just seem a bit emptier without Bob Loney as a consistent backdrop.

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