RUDY HALUZA
If those who saw Rudy Haluza on campus in the 1960s thought he always was in a hurry to get somewhere, he was — to the Olympics. A 1966 OU grad, Haluza was one of the nation’s top race walkers ever. In 1964 he broke a 45-year-old national record when he covered seven miles and 1,614 yards in one hour, topping the 1918 record of seven miles, 1,450 yds. He previously had competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics but became ill and finished just 24th. He fared much better in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, placing fourth, still the highest Olympic finish ever by an American race walker.