| Birth: | Nov. 2, 1903
Friend
Saline County
Nebraska, USA | | Death: | Dec. 23, 1988
Santa Monica
Los Angeles County
California, USA | 
Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake
He was born Elvin Clifford Drake Nov 2, 1903 in Friend, Nebraska. His family moved to Ft. Morgan, Colorado where he played high school sports. Then they moved to Los Angeles where he worked in his father's lumber yard.
He entered UCLA as a student and graduated in 1927. He was the first one in his family to go to college where he ran track and received his degree in Education. He briefly taught Math at a Junior High School in Los Angeles. In 1929 was made the assistant track coach (1929-44), and he also married Ethelyne N. Curtiss, his wife of 53 years. She passed away in 1979.
In his 60 years associated with UCLA he had numerous titles including track and field coach (1947-64) and trainer (1942-72) He retired from coaching in 1964 but continued as trainer until 1986 primarily for basketball and football. He is remembered for training 8 Olympians the most famous one being Rafer Johnson, 1960 Olympic Decathlon Champion.
He always said that his biggest thrill was at the 1960 Summer Olympics at Rome. He was the coach for both Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang in one of the most memorable decathlon duels in modern track and field history. Both were students at UCLA and Ducky watched them compete without showing favoritism. Johnson finished first and Yang second.
His unwavering devotion to UCLA was recognized in 1973 when the track and field stadium was named Drake Stadium and in 1984 when he was inducted as a charter member in the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.
Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake, USTFCCCA Special Inductee
As head track coach he lead the Bruins to the 1956 NCAA outdoor team title and he was named NCAA Track & Field Coach of the Year.
During his career, seven of his athletes won nine NCAA individual titles and 12 national AAU crowns. Olympians coached by Ducky include 1952 Gold Medalists in the javelin Cy Young (not the baseball player) and Bronze Medal winner Craig Dixon (1948) and George Roubanis (1956).
Ducky is also honored in the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame and the USATF Hall of Fame.
Many people don't know that he was also treated famous non athletes for injuries in his home in Santa Monica including Vidal Sassoon's wife, Beverly Adams and writer Hal Lindsey.
Family links:
Spouse:
Ethelyne Nadine Curtiss Drake (1906 - 1979)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Woodlawn Cemetery
Santa Monica
Los Angeles County
California, USA |
Created by: Christine
Record added: Nov 11, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 80268529 |
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