Contact: Public Relations
(863) 680-4118

Olympic Games lecturer
visits Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2003) - Florida Southern College presents a lecture by Dr. John Lucas, professor emeritus of Penn State University and the official lecturer for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Lucas will discuss the workings of the IOC on Oct. 23 in the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall (Branscomb 202) at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. 

Lucas has traveled to every summer-winter Olympic game since 1960, serving as a journalist, researcher, statistician and historian. The IOC has honored Lucas as "Special Guest of the IOC President" since 1992. He was a finalist in the 1952 U.S. Olympic trials for the 10,000-meter run and has continued to run competitively ever since. To date, he has logged 109,000 miles. 

Lucas taught at Penn State for 35 years, serving as the track and field head coach from 1962-1968. He received his bachelor's degree from Boston University; a master's from the University of Southern California; a master's in American History from Penn State; and a doctoral degree in physical education from the University of Maryland. A published author, Lucas has written numerous articles for domestic and international journals, three books on sports and the Olympic games, and four historical monographs. 

For further information, please contact Katherine Straw, FSC physical education professor, at (863) 680-4265. 

About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.

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