Carl "Eddie" Hereford Biography

St. Albans High School / (Class of 1965) St. Albans, WV

Classification: AAA Boys

Specialty: Distance

East Carolina University / (Class of 1975) Greenville, NC

Carl "Eddie" Hereford (born on April 22, 1947) was a native of St. Albans, West Virginia and was a world-class marathoner. He was a son of Charles Robert and Marjorie Lowe Hereford. He had one sibling, brother Eugene Hereford.

Eddie graduated from St. Albans High School in 1965 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served for five years and was stationed in Goldsboro, N.C., before finishing his service in Okinawa, Japan. He attended East Carolina University on the GI bill, graduating with a bachelor's degree in science in 1975 and a master’s degree in education in 1982.

Eddie loved being outside in God's creation and had studied stars, trees, birds, rocks and weather as early as eight years old. He carried that passion into a teaching career. He began teaching high school science in the late 1970s in eastern North Carolina, including a few years at Williamston High School, before moving to Raleigh where he taught for 15 years at Sanderson High School. He taught for a few years at a private school in Raleigh and for Franklin County Schools before retiring from full-time teaching in 2003 to return to St. Albans. He enjoyed substitute teaching and continued to do so until his health declined. Teaching, running, traveling and family were Eddie's passions.

After taking up running in high school, Eddie competed in marathons while stationed in Japan and eventually all over the U.S. with the North Carolina Track Club during a racing career that spanned more than 10 years. He competed in the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials against eventual gold medalist Frank Shorter. Hereford ran the Boston Marathon four times and once held the North Carolina marathon record.

He coached cross country and track at Sanderson High School for five years before giving it up when he became a father but continued to run or walk every day if he was able. He kept a log of all the miles and locations he ran--some as far away as Germany--and his total mileage over four decades was more than 75,000 miles, which is three times around the world.

Above all, Eddie was a faithful Christian to his death. He taught Bible classes for adults, children and high school students and constantly offered his time by sending cards, making calls and visiting those in need. His unforgettable sense of humor and enthusiasm for life helped him relate to anyone regardless of age or background. His faith only increased upon his cancer diagnosis. While he decided to battle his illness, he also was prepared for his heavenly reward at any time. His example of remaining faithful to God during difficult and uncertain times was a shining light to those who knew him.

Carl E. "Eddie" Hereford, 66, of St. Albans, passed away December 15, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer, at Hubbard Hospice House West with his wife by his side.

At Hereford's funeral, legendary St. Albans basketball coach Tex Williams recalled that he also coached boys cross country for the Red Dragons. Since he knew little about training distance runners, he had asked Hereford to design a training program for him. Following Hereford's plan, Williams laid the foundation for a St. Albans cross country program that won state championships in 1968, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1976.

Submitted by Coach Mike McMillion (04/17/18)