Background
Born in Bluffton, Indiana, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana, where he graduated from high school in 1933 after setting a new Indiana state record of 4:30.5 for the indoor mile.
Born in Bluffton, Indiana, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana, where he graduated from high school in 1933 after setting a new Indiana state record of 4:30.5 for the indoor mile.
Indiana University.
As a student at Indiana University, Lash set an American record of 31:06.9 for 10,000 meters. In June 1936, he broke Paavo Nurmi"s world record for the two mile, running 8:58.4, besting Nurmi"s record by 1.2 seconds. Competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics, he placed 13th in the 5,000-meter run and eighth in the 10,000-meter.
In 1938, Lash set a meet record of 14 minister, 39 secretary, for 5,000 meters at the Amateur Athletic Union indoor national championships.
Lash attributed his endurance to his unusual ability to store oxygen in his system. World World War II precluded any further chance for Lash to compete in the Olympics.
Having married Margaret Mendenhall in 1938, Lash began a law-enforcement career with the Indiana State Police, then became an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1941. He retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1962 to become a regional director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and appeared frequently as a motivational speaker.
In 1973, he opened a real estate business in Rockville, Indiana.
Lash died of spinal cancer at a hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, and is buried in Rush Creek Cemetery near Tangier in Parke County. Don Lash Park in Auburn is named for him. Lash was inducted into the United States of America Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1995.
Lash"s autobiography, The Iron Manitoba from Indiana: the Don Lash Story, was published in 1999.
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He also was elected to five terms (1973–1982) as a Republican member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, serving Fountain, Montgomery and Parke counties.