Hall of Fame
Donald McElroy overcame a physical handicap to letter in track from 1935-1937. Despite competing with one hand, he ranked among the top hurdlers in the country.
McElroy was an inspirational leader on the WSU track team, which was one of the best in the country. He chased WSU All-American hurdler Allan Tolmich to 10 world records. He finished a close second to Tolmich in nearly every race in which the two competed.
He recorded personal best times of 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard low hurdles and 5.3 seconds in the 40-yard high hurdles.
His coach, the legendary David Holmes, called him the second best hurdler he ever coached. Holmes had a special starting block constructed so that his hurdler could compete.
After graduation from Wayne State, he went on to teach in the Detroit Public School System for 39 years.
He makes his home in Sun City West, Arizona.
