Dale Says

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

- Confucius

Jim Bolding fell and got back up a lot during his life. Training to run the hurdles involves falling, and Jim must have tumbled dozens of times during the years he competed as a world-class hurdler. Imagine running as fast as you can for a quarter of a mile while leaping over ten three-foot hurdles without breaking stride.

But here’s the thing: each time Jim fell he got up, dusted himself off, and carried on. And he used that approach in his everyday life, too, soldiering on through set-backs with an upbeat outlook. His positive, never-call-it-quits attitude made Jim a hero in every aspect of his life.

Recently, in recognition of his achievements, Jim received a bit of well-deserved glory.

Jim was an outstanding hurdler at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma State University (OSU), in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he was most successful in the 400-yard hurdles.

Jim was a two-time All-American, earning seven Big Eight titles, and he was selected the conference’s Outdoor Outstanding Athlete in 1971 and the Indoor Outstanding Athlete in 1972. He was also named OSU Athlete of the Year in 1972.

After college, Jim continued to excel in track.

He was an NCAA Champion in the 400-meter hurdles and the 400-yard hurdles. In 1972, he finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and he made the U.S. Olympic team in 1976. Jim competed internationally and won his event at several prestigious track meets. The U.S. Olympic Committee named Jim the Sportsman of the Year in 1974.

While competing in Oregon, Jim met Denise Hatfield, a beautiful young lady and the daughter of a track coach. Jim wooed Denise and they married in September 1977 and settled in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where Jim coached track at OSU and then became a partner in a travel agency. Together, he and Denise raised two children, Tatum and Taylor, who live on the west coast.

During his years in Stillwater, Jim was a respected coach, successful businessman, loyal friend, avid golfer and skier, and passionate supporter of the OSU Cowboys. He had a great run for more than 60 years.

Recently, however, Jim had a streak of bad luck.

Denise died suddenly last year while she and Jim were preparing to take a family vacation. That was a hard fall to recover from, but Jim got up and carried on, doing the things he needed to do and the things he loved.

And the cancer Jim battled the past six years came back, and this time it got the best of him. In his typical fashion, most people weren’t aware he was ill – he remained upbeat and jovial, ate a healthy diet of veggies, fruit, and greens (supplemented with good red wine), and ran every day until he couldn’t run any more. He was determined to beat it.

In the midst of those bad tidings, Jim received some good news: he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. This is the pinnacle for an Oklahoma athlete and Jim joined a group of sports icons that includes Olympic gold medal winner Jim Thorpe, baseball Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Johnny Bench, and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman.

No doubt a lot of people are happy that Jim received this award. It was a fitting chapter in his love affair with sports, an appropriate recognition of his ability to rise from falls, and a bit of well-deserved glory for an unassuming star.