Wayne State University Athletics

A 1957 graduate of Wayne State University, John Telford is the youngest athlete ever to be inducted into the Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame at the age of 42. Telford was a four-year letterman in track from 1954-1957. His greatest achievement was being ranked fourth in the World during the 1957 season. He excelled in all distances, from 60-880 dashes or running events. Telford still holds the Wayne State 440 yard record of 46.8 seconds and the record has stood for the past 20 seasons.

Not only a success on the athletic field, Telford has also excelled as a writer and an education administrator. In 1965 Telford authored, The Longest Dash, A Running Commentary on the Quarter Mile. In 1971, the book went into its second edition.

John Telford also served as an Executive Director of Secondary Education for the Plymouth-Canton Public School System.