MIDDLETOWN—Momentous accomplishments, while celebrated at the time of their occurrence, can often be forgotten over time. This is true of those achieved by individual competitors, as well as the outstanding efforts evinced by coaches and officials. To that end, in 2016 the Section IX Track and Field Hall of Fame was created by a group of coaches, officials and journalists to celebrate those superbly talented athletes’ coaches and officials that make up Section IX. This year at the Section 9 Track and Field Hall of Fame dinner, held at Kuhl’s Highland House, the 2021 class of Hall of Fame inductees included two local icons, each with a storied record and each still tirelessly working at his craft. They are Tri-Valley’s Chip Furman, admitted based on his stellar high school running career and Sullivan West’s Ron Bauer whose 56 years of coaching indoor and outdoor track (as well as football) are noteworthy not only by their lengthy tenure, but also in the spawning of a cadre of individual and team champions across the decades.

To be eligible, candidates for induction must have competed for a high school which was a member of Section IX at the time of competition. In addition, candidates must have graduated high school ten years prior to the election year. Candidates must have competed in at least one of the following seasons: cross-county, outdoor or indoor track. Candidates considered for a coaching nomination must have coached or officiated for a minimum of 20 years. Needless to say, all need to be people of integrity and good character. Each inductee was introduced by an iconic member of the Section IX track and field community. They then proceeded to give thanks and praise to the many people who inspired them and helped forge the training and the character that led to their success. Each received an individual commemorative plaque and one for the school’s sports showcase where they will keep alive this special honor and add to the archival legacy of the schools from which their honor was derived.

In his address, Ron Bauer referenced Joe Seidl, his assistant who oversaw six Section IX girls track and field championships. He went on to extol the example of former Jeff-Youngsville Coach Jerry Davit who won forty games in a row, lost one and then won another 40 in a row. Davit taught Bauer about positivity, enthusiasm and toughness. To coach track you need to know the particulars about all the events. To that end, he noted “you need to find someone better than you.” Bauer learned throwing from icon Bob Decker, pole-vault from guru Tim St. Martin and sprints and hurdles from the world-famous Carl Lewis. Bauer who is also legendary by dint of his football coaching learned first-hand about fundamentals from former Miami Dolphins’ coach Don Shula, the only NFL coach to go undefeated in a season with a team that never fumbled once. Bauer gave credit to many of the fine athletes he has coached, including Mike Stauch, who was present at the dinner. Stauch was a pioneer in racewalking and even though it wasn’t counted in the meets, Bauer presented him with a medal. He went on to become a two-time national champion from Kenosha College and competed at the Olympic trials.

For Tri-Valley cross-country and track coach Chip Furman, coming home to coach at the school which was the epicenter of his outstanding high school career was a dream come true. In the two years since he took up the mantle, T-V has risen meteorically, approaching the notoriety it had over the years under the inimitable coaching of Joe and Missy Iatauro. At the McQuaid Invitational in Rochester, Furman’s son Adam, a junior, took first in the small school three-mile run with a stunning time of 15:27.60. The team, which was missing one of its key competitors who was quarantined, missed winning the team title by three points. The Bears are ranked first in the state in Class D. Furman is ranked number one in Class D. Coach Furman noted that he was the sixth Tri-Valley inductee preceded by the Iatauros, Kate Landau, Ryan Loughney and Heather Iatauro. While he admitted to viewing his career back then from the standpoint of his own accomplishments, he has come to realize, “It wasn’t all about me.” His tribute to his former coaches, present at the dinner was both touching and fitting. It was the values they imparted to him that “molded that core in me,” he said.

The Ron Bauer File

Graduated from Delaware Valley Central School in 1960, where he was outstanding in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was league champion in the one-mile run. He attended SUNY Cortland from 1962-1966 where he competed in football and lacrosse. He began coaching football and track at DVCS from 1966-1999 and on to Sullivan West. He has coached for 56 years in football, indoor and outdoor track and is one of the most successful coaches in all three sports in Section IX. Ron has had 56 athletes compete at states in indoor and outdoor. His teams won six outdoor league championships and 14 Section IX Championships. In indoor track, Bauer’s squads captured four Divisional team titles and three Section IX Class B crowns, as well as mentoring numerous Sullivan County, OCIAA and Section IX champions. He had 12 state champions and eight national junior Olympic champions, two All-Americans and two Empire State champions. Some of his athletes competed in the Pan American Games, the Mobil Meet and the Millrose Games. In 1988 Mike Stauch, one of his athletes competed in the Olympic qualifying meet. Bauer has been recognized as Class D, C, B Coach of the Year in football and has had two of his players awarded Player of the Year.

The Chip Furman File

Graduated from Tri-Valley Central School in 1991. He was one of the most decorated runners in school history. He was a two-time Section IX Class C Cross-Country Champion with a Bear Mountain personal record of 15:11. He was NYS Class C champion in 1990 winning the race by 37 seconds and clocking the fastest time of the day, equaling the largest margin of victory ever in state meet competition. He then captured third place in the Federation meet. In 1990 he also went on to place third in the Kinney Northeast Region Cross-Country Championships, followed by a sixth place finish at the Kinney National Championships in San Diego, CA, earning All-American honors. In indoor and outdoor track, Chip was a multiple champion in the OCIAA and Section IX meets. In his junior years (1990) he became the first-ever New York State 3000-meter steeplechase champion in its introduction into New York State track. He went on to place second in the prestigious 3000-meter steeplechase at the Keebler International Prep Track and Field Invitational in Elmhurst, Illinois. He was named 1991 Prep All-American in the steeplechase by Track and Field News. Chip went on to North Carolina State and helped the team to an Atlantic Coach Conference Championships in 1992. He placed 11th in the 1992 NCAAQ Division I championships.