Mr. Hasapes graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. and M.S. in Physical Education.  He obtained his Administrative Credential, performing his field work at U.S.C.  He played football under the late Bo McMillin and he also competed  in Track and Wrestling.  After being wounded twice in the war, he made a remarkable recovery in health, and strength through weight training.  He has since won awards for his weight lifting ability.  Mr. Hasapes has written many articles in the field of education and juvenile delinquency (see Nov. Dec. 1959 issue of Physical Power.)

Some years ago, at a Sunday picnic, a teenage lad decided to enter a foot-race involving not only boys his age, but young adults.  This fleet-footed youngster not only managed to win but practically smothered his competition.  It was then Frank Wykoff dreamed of becoming a world's champion, never realizing he had been endowed by the gods on Mt. Olympus, by being offered the Mantle of Mercury -- the swift-footed messenger of the gods, to become the "world's fastest human."

After graduation from Glendale High School in California, he made the United States Olympic Track Squad.  In 1928 at the Olympic Trials held at Cambridge, Massachusetts, four times in one day he equalled the world's

100 meter dash record of 10.4 seconds, held by the immortal Charlie Paddock of U.S.C.  As one of the youngest athletes on the U. S. Olympic Track squad, Frank Wykoff ran anchor man in the 400 meter relay at Amsterdam, Holland, to bring home the baton for a glorious victory.  He repeated this performance in the 1932 Olympic Games Held in Los Angeles.  With overtones of a Nazi invasion of Europe in 1936, Jesse Owens a four-gold medal winner that memorable day, started off the 400 meter relay; once again, with the burden of pressure squarely upon his shoulders, the great sprint star from U.S.C. (Frank Wykoff) brought the baton in victoriously to successfully sustain domination in this track event for America.  He anchored three winning United States 400 meter relay teams consecutively at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932, and at Berlin in 1936 and each time a new world's record was set.

In 1930, Frank Wykoff inherited Charlie Paddock's title, "world's fastest human," by running 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard dash.  Even the incomparable Jesse Owens could not beat this incredible time, though he publicly predicted it.  Running without starting blocks, it is even more incredible when at Lincoln, Nebraska (1931), Frank Wykoff was officially clocked at 9.3 in the 100 yard dash but was not granted credit because two of the five required judges were not A.A.U. representatives!  This phenomenal feat electrified the sports world and there is hardly a track enthusiast alive who doesn't remember.  However, his official world's record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard dash lasted for seventeen years when finally Mel Patton of U.S.C. lowered it to 9.3 seconds.  Frank Wykoff holds the unique distinction of being the only participant in the history of regular Olympic Games in track, who has won a gold medal in the same event three times in succession!

Today (1959?), the three-time Olympian, winner of three gold medals is the chief executive and Director of Special Schools for the County of Los Angeles which is under the jurisdiction of the County Superintendent, C. C. Trillingham, and is operated by the Division of Special Schools.

Frank Wykoff still maintains a competitive spirit, which he has never lost. He is gifted with an alert thinking mind and with a rapid-fire speech. Through sensible eating habits coupled with recreational activities such as fishing and golfing, he has kept his competitive bodyweight and fast reflexes.  It is only when he begins walking, that his track heritage becomes evident.

He is married and has a fine family, a charming and inspiring wife (Ethel Mae), a son (Frank David)  who is pursuing a career in chemistry and a daughter (Marjorie) who is interested in medicine.  In spite of a busy schedule which includes departmental meetings, after dinner speeches, educational conference, philanthropic and community responsibilities, scripting educational programs for television, demonstrating to youth the art of sprinting, he still manages to keep a happily active family that spends as much time together in recreation as possible.

Frank Wykoff is held in high esteem as an educator of teachers and school administrators who dedicate themselves to solving special problems of troubled youth.  By inclination, he is a full-time educator, as well as an administrator; under his leadership, the academic programs tailored for the Special Schools of Los Angeles County have improved immensely to better serve the needs, interests and capabilities of our misguided boys and girls.

As example of his interest in misguided teen-ages in Special Schools, is the Model Weight Training class which he and Mr. Arnold Schindler, principal of Juvenile Hall School, part of the world's largest Detention Center, have effectively integrated into the Regular Physical Education Curriculum.  It is extremely popular with the student body and classes are regularly scheduled, making weight training available to all those interested in this fast growing art of body building.  It is hoped that more school administrators, and educators will follow their fine example.

The physical educational instructors at Juvenile Hall School take great pride in this worth-while activity and the wonderful interest shown by the students.  It is indeed fortunate that the Physical Education Staff at Juvenile Hall School have an administrator with great understanding in Frank Wykoff.

Frank Wykoff, one of America's leading authorities on the subject of Juvenile delinquency has no magic formula, or the Alpha and Omega of the elimination of this growing cancer, but from his experience has observed. "Teen-age street gangs who do not take part in some type of athletics are more idle and more apt to get into trouble with the law than those who do. Constructive activity is the key to developing a sound character towards becoming a worth-while citizen, in contrast to youngsters, who organize into gangs and usually break the laws, of our communities."  As Director of Special Schools for Los Angeles County, he has seen a lot of boys, potentially good athletic material, fall by the wayside through lack of sports competition.

He emphasized that sports have an important role in educating youth, and is always alert to point out to the boys its values.  It is a way of life, a laboratory of  "the world at large."  Frank Wykoff stated, "That with values gained through competitive sports, our mis-guided youth can develop necessary qualities which help to make a 'potential delinquent' constructive and useful to society.  The way a person adheres to the rules of a game which has it counterpart in the the 'game of living' is important in character building;" he added significantly, "Anyone can be a good winner but it is much more difficult to be a good loser."

During the interview, he talked about the stress and strains of fierce competition which instills in a person qualities of self-control, poise, patience, self-confidence, perseverance, and will power.  Whether a performer is a winner or a loser, he is exposed to the elements which reflect the Olympian Philosophy; that is, the playing in the game is much more important than the honor of winning.  "Victory is sports," he commented, "It's a means to an end, but character development so vital to successful adjustment in later life is far greater."

Frank Wykoff feels that Dean Cromwell, "Maker of Champions," veteran Coach of U.S.C. is unquestionably the world's greatest track personality.  "Inspiration was his trademark coupled with a thorough knowledge of human nature and successful techniques of the sport," remarked Frank: "He inspired the track stars and encouraged those on the squad of lesser ability."

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