Hall of Fame
George Eriquezzo ran the first 9.3 100-yard dash in the state of Arkansas at a track and field meet in Little Rock in 1965. Recruited by Coach Raymond “Rip” Powell out of Danbury, Conn., Eriquezzo not only set a Southern Arkansas University record in the 100-yard dash, but also ran on school record 440 and 880-yard relay teams in respective times of 40.8 and 1:26.8 in 1966.
Eriquezzo also set an Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) record in the 100. He was a member of the Mulerider 440-yard relay team that finished fourth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national meet. Eriquezzo was a 1966 NAIA All-American, and was All-AIC in 1965, 1966, and 1968. He was injured in 1967.
Eriquezzo set a national high school record of 6.2 in the 60-yard dash at Danbury, which brought on many scholarship offers. After he suffered a hamstring injury, most of the NCAA Division I coaches withdrew their scholarship offers. Powell held firm with his promise, and George’s father informed him he would go to Southern Arkansas and run for Coach Powell. Until that time, George thought he would be a sprinter at Michigan State.
After a career with the United Parcel Service back home in Danbury, Eriquezzo is now retired in Waldo. He said he was so happy he came to Southern Arkansas and “get to know and love Coach Powell, who was a great man.” No one close to Mulerider athletics would argue that point!
