Former Glendale track coach passes away (AZ)

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http://www.glendalestar.com/articles/20 ... spts11.txt

Former Glendale track coach passes away

By George Witkowski
Described as a person who brought out the best in an athlete, legendary Glendale High School track coach Ken France passed away May 10 at Glendale’s Hospice of the Valley.

France lettered in football, wrestling and track in high school, and wrestled at the University of Nebraska. He was the son a of a career track coach while growing up in Nebraska.

France coached and taught at Glendale High School from 1959 to 1989, and was responsible for the growth of the Glendale Invitational Track Meet in the 1960s and 1970s when it was the premier preseason statewide high school track meet in Arizona.

He coached state champions and other athletes who went on to compete at the collegiate and national level.

Steve Jacobs, track coach at Mesa Community College, was a state champion at Glendale and remembers France for his giving attitude to the athletes.

“He was a tremendous coach and was my first coach at Glendale High School,â€