Hall of Fame
Stan Mathes was a record-setting runner as a member of the UW-Oshkosh men’s track and field program from 1965-67 before going on to establish even more running records at senior-aged events.
The Hilbert High School graduate helped UW-Oshkosh to a pair of WIAC outdoor titles as the Titans shared the crown with UW-Whitewater in 1966 before winning the championship outright in 1967. The 1966 title was the second for UW-Oshkosh and its first since 1927.
Mathes played a major role during UW-Oshkosh’s two track & field titles by winning the 880-yard run in both 1966 and 1967 and running a leg on the Titans’ victorious mile relay squad in 1966. Mathes’ first-place time of 1:55.9 in the 880-yard run at the 1967 WIAC Championship was the league record for multiple years while his group’s time of 3:21.9 in the mile relay at the 1966 conference meet set a new event mark.
Mathes concluded the 1967 season by representing UW-Oshkosh in the 880-yard run at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Mathes also was a member of UW-Oshkosh men’s cross country teams that captured back-to-back WIAC titles in 1966 and 1967. The championships were the first for the Titans in that sport.
Mathes received a pair of academic degrees from UW-Oshkosh, a bachelor’s in 1969 and a master’s in 1973.
Following his graduations from UW-Oshkosh, Mathes continued his racing prowess on the senior circuit by setting numerous records and winning nearly 180 races between 1980 and 2024.
Mathes is the current National Senior Games Association record holder in the 800-meter run 60-64 age division with his 2007 time of 2:17.97. He also owns the second-fastest time in the 1,500-meter run 65-69 age category with his 2011 time of 5:03.73.
Competing at the 2006 USA Track & Field Outdoor Masters Championship, Mathes won the 800-meter run 60-46 age division with a world-record time of 2:15. He also won 800- or 1,500-meter run races for his age group in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Mathes still holds Wisconsin Senior Olympics outdoor records in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. He set the organization’s records by running to times of 2:21.14 in the 800-meter run 55-59 age division in 2004 and 4:50.0 in the 1,500-meter run 60-64 age classification in 2006.
Retired, Mathes enjoyed a distinguished teaching, coaching and guidance counseling career at Lomira High School from 1969-2004. He served the school as a social studies teacher, cross country coach and track & field coach from 1969-72 and a guidance counselor from 1974-2004.
A 30-year volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Mathes has served as president of the Fond du Lac Running Club and the Lomira Teachers Association.
Mathes, who currently competes for the Southern California Track Club, lives in Fond du Lac with his wife, Kathy.
