Walter Dray

Walter Dray was IC4A pole vault champion in 1907-08. In those two years, he also set three world records in the pole vault. One of those (3.82 [12-6½]) was set in winning the 1908 Penn Relays title. Dray captained the Yale University track team but eventually earned a degree from MIT.

Dray later worked as a tractor manufacturing engineer and designer. In 1917 he became general manager of Hart-Parr Company, which manufactured farm tractors in Charles City, Iowa. He became vice-president of the troubled company, and was able to procure two contracts with the US government to build steam steering engines for warships and cast steel wheels for a four-wheel drive truck, which helped provide the struggling company with much needed income. Dray’s leadership revived the company and he was appointed to the board of directors in 1919.

Personal Best: PV – 3.90 (12-9½) (1908).