Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1990
- Class:
- 1953
Most athletes simply dream of representing the United States in Olympic competition. Thane Baker did it twice.
Most Olympians dream of winning medals. Baker did that four times. And, not only did he medal in separate games, he did so as a sprinter – one of the most difficult tasks an athlete could undertake. Great accomplishments, indeed, for this Elkhart, Kan.. native (the high school stadium there is named after him), who joined Kansas State’s track squad as a walk-on.
Baker finished his Wildcat career with an NCAA title in the 220-yard dash in 1953. Before that, he piled up 10 Big Eight crowns, including three consecutive golds in both the 100 and 220-yard dashes from 1951-53.
As an Olympian, he won the silver medal in the 220-yard dash at the ’52 games in Helsinki, Finland. He came back in 1956 to claim three medals at Melbourne, Australia. He won gold on America’s 400-meter relay team, silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200.
Leadership is a quality Baker also practiced away from the athletic venue. He was one of two students on the KSU Athletic Council, and was vice-president of the Student Council. The beginnings of his military service began here when he joined KSU’s ROTC. He then spent three years in the Air Force and 27 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Colonel.
