Steve Nelson
Picture: (l to r): Steve Nelson. David Scire, Dickie Kleier
UT Track: 1966-1970; UT Cross Country: 1966-1969, Lettered 3 years, Finished 8th in 1967, 7th in 1968, and 6th in 1969 in SEC Championship. Best finish in NCAA Championship was 88th in Laramie, WY in 1967; UT Track: 1967-1970, Lettered 2 years, In 1969, placed 4th in Penn Relays and 15th in NCAA Outdoor Championship Meet in steeplechase, In 1970, won Mason Dixon Games Mile; Placed 4th in Mile, 2nd in 2 Mile and ran on winning 2 Mile Relay Team at SEC Indoor Championship, and Placed 4th in 3 Mile at SEC Outdoor Championship.
Military Service: USMC Reserve; 1970-1976; SGT E-5.
Unit: Air Base Support Squadron 41 (MABS 41) in Millington, TN
MOS: Supply Warehouseman and then, Supply Administration
Medals: Sharpshooter
Comments: Due to following Coach Rohe’s tenacious workout routine and to our distance group’s commitment to his discipline, Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island was a snap. I went there in November 1970 after completing my senior track season and graduating from UT that spring. I was made the Guide of our Platoon early on and never relinquished that position… So, thanks to Coach Rohe, in only 8 short months I rose from a raw E-1 recruit to an E-3 pay grade and status level.
Comments: Due to following Coach Rohe’s tenacious workout routine and to our distance group’s commitment to his discipline, Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island was a snap. I went there in November 1970 after completing my senior track season and graduating from UT that spring. I was made the Guide of our Platoon early on and never relinquished that position. Upon graduation, I was named Most Outstanding Recruit in my Platoon (earning a free dress blue uniform!) and was one of only a handful promoted to E-2 Private First Class. During a Boot Camp 4-Platoon Track Meet, I ran the anchor leg of the Mile Relay and took our team from 3rd place to 1st place in that race. During our Reserve Unit’s 2 week summer camp at Cherry Point Marine Air Base, NC in June 1971, I beat their best regular Marine at a 3 Mile race on an abandoned runway. That earned me a field promotion to E-3 Lance Corporal on the way back to our base. So, thanks to Coach Rohe, in only 8 short months I rose from a raw E-1 recruit to an E-3 pay grade and status level.