ORONO, Maine -- Bill Schroeder was always intrigued by the pole vault. As a youngster, he remembers going to the movies and seeing a news reel that featured the exploits of world champion American pole vaulter Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam, who used a bamboo pole.

 

"I thought, geez, that looks like fun," said Schroeder who, after a simple beginning in a field near his home, turned it into a passion.

 

"I stuck two poles in the ground for uprights and put a clothesline across," he recalled. "We had a bamboo pole down in the basement and I just started fussing around with it."

 

Schroeder's fascination with pole vault continued through high school and into college. By the time he got to the University of Maine, his quest for excellence helped him become a championship performer.

 

Schroeder established himself as the top pole vaulter in UMaine history, setting state, conference and New England records along the way. His efforts have earned him a coveted spot in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.

 

"I'm thrilled. It's a very nice honor," Schroeder said.

 

Few can recall Schroeder's athletic exploits for the Black Bears, simply because it was so long ago. Now 89, he graduated from UMaine with an agricultural engineering degree in 1958.

 

Schroeder went to UMaine to study forestry, but quickly determined that he would prefer engineering. After classes, he spent countless hours in the field house perfecting his pole vaulting technique.

 

Chester Jenkins was the Black Bears coach for Schroeder's first two seasons, then Ed Styrna took over in 1956. Back then, there was one coach for the entire track and field squad, so athletes did a lot of work on their own.

 

"I don't mean to denigrate the coaches, they were great," Schroeder said. "We just didn't see him [Styrna] as much as the runners did."

 

Schroeder, who also competed in the hurdles, worked with teammates like Bob Hastings and Dave Linekin trying to perfect their craft. They were using less forgiving metal poles, rather than the modern fiberglass implements that would soon change the event forever.

 

In a January 1957 meet in Orono, Schroeder and Linekin each cleared 12 feet, 9 1/2 inches, breaking a school record that had stood for nearly 25 years. A month later, Schroeder set the state indoor record at 13-2 1/2.

 

Schroeder was highly competitive, but deeply valued the relationships he developed in his pursuits. That is reflected in a story from his junior outdoor season.

 

Schroeder and Hastings went head to head during the state outdoor meet in 1957. Both men cleared 12-6, but officials ruled that when a bent bar had been straightened out Schroeder actually went 12-6 3/4.

 

According to a report in "The Portland Press Herald," Schroeder asked officials to vacate the bent bar ruling and use the two identical vaults in determining the outcome, making them co-champions.

 

"Bob Hastings, who was a senior, was a real good guy. He was a year ahead of me and it was his last chance at a state championship," Schroeder said of the sportsmanlike gesture.

 

Schroeder benefitted from the camaraderie and competition generated among several teammates who were also members of the Phi Eta Kappa fraternity. He looks back fondly on the efforts of his coach during the last two years.

 

"Coach Styrna really stands out. He was very helpful and you could relate to him," he said. "I enjoyed his coaching and his friendship."

 

As a senior in 1958, Schroeder's vault of 13 feet even was good enough to sweep individual titles for the school, state, Yankee Conference and New England region.

 

During the indoor season, Schroeder had established a UMaine mark in the 65-yard hurdles. He called his UMaine career a great experience.

 

"As I look back, I now realize there were a couple of flaws in my technique and if I knew then what I know now, I could have done better," Schroeder quipped.

 

Upon graduation, he returned to New Jersey where he met the love of his life, Mary. They will celebrate their 65th anniversary in November.

 

After working as a telephone company engineer for 31 years, Schroeder retired at 55 and transitioned into a second career. He became a part-time math teacher and the girls track and field coach at The Lawrenceville School, a nearby prestigious prep school.

 

He established the girls track program there, leading his teams to 28 state championships (14 each, indoor and outdoor). Schroeder also spent 10 years as the girls cross country coach before being inducted into the Lawrenceville School Hall of Fame.

 

"They needed a coach for the girls, so there I was. It was just by luck," he said.
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The University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting five individuals, as well as teams from three sports, at its annual banquet on Sept. 26 at Jeff's Catering in Brewer.