My knowledge of K-State Track and Field was pretty minimal as I was on my way to Kansas last month. I didn’t even know enough about my schedule to say whether I would have time to stop by the campus of Kansas State University at any point, but I’m so glad it worked out.

Marty and I drove up to Manhattan for a couple of meetings starting in the late afternoon, so we ended up with some free time. We drove over to K-State so I could search for information about my great grandpa, Ward Haylett. (Honestly, it had not occurred to me before that he would have a Wikipedia page, but of course he does.) Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew there was something about the Olympics and something about a hall of fame, but was my family overselling his legacy?

We stopped in at the welcome center and learned the track facility was no longer next door, but a brand new facility had just opened a 40-minute uphill walk away. So we set out (payback for Marty dragging me all over Israel and Turkey, I guess). We arrived at the basketball arena and found the doors locked, but a student let us in the building and helped us find the offices for the track and field staff. They were completely empty of staff, but we did start to find some information.

The hallway was lined with photos of athletes, and some of those athletes listed my great grandpa as their coach. It wasn’t quite what I had in mind, but this was better than nothing. Inside of the offices, they had more photos and lists and things about the Olympics, and even within the individual offices, yet more placards and records, but nothing else about Ward Haylett that I could see. Where were all the staff? There was a sign on the desk about someone being in the equipment room, but no answer when I called the number.

We went next door to another office and asked someone from another department, but they didn’t know anything. Going back to the track and field offices to double check what our eyes might have missed, we were surprised when Trey Brokaw, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, popped out of one of the offices. He’s new to K-State, but he knew the name Ward Haylett and pointed us to the indoor track building next door.

The building was empty. We slowly worked our way around the track, absorbing as much of the information as we could, and we finally landed on the banner that showed Coach Haylett’s induction into the hall of fame. (Is that what his athletes actually called him?) I was picturing a lobby or a hallway with some glass display cases, so this wasn’t what I had in mind, but it was certainly cool—and especially in the context of knowing some of the athletes he coached, very cool. I was more than satisfied with what I found.

Marty and I wandered outside, discussing whether we wanted to walk back down the hill or find some scooters or what. Trey found us and asked if we had gotten in, so we chatted for a few moments, but then Kayla Tully walked up. She is the one who had been in the equipment room.

“You’re Ward Haylett’s great grandson?”
“Yes.”
“I have something to show you—a suitcase. We found it a couple of years ago and we weren’t sure what to do with it.”

My mind was reeling with possibilities. We marched back up to the offices I had poked around in half an hour earlier. It turns out I was right on top of this thing and just didn’t know to look for it.

Even without a family connection, this is an extremely cool suitcase, but apparently I share a love for Italy with Great Gramps. (I was not quite 5 when he died, and I have no idea if we ever met. The number of family members remaining who could answer that question are few. Anyway, I’m not sure what to call him yet.)

But the contents were the real treasure—chock-full of photos, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, personal letters, and everything about his life I could possibly hope to know.

The spacing of the text, presumably hand set for letterpress printing, is fascinating. And of course I have to point out the error that is coaches coach. But this brief description is delightful.

“Available at all times”—another thing I can relate to.

This moving piece by one of his athletes, shot-putter Jim Cain, is full of things I can aspire to.

I called my sister on FaceTime to show her what I was seeing. I was still in shock.

After a bit of browsing around, I realize my time is running short, so I close things up and give my information to Kayla so we can be in touch about what to do next. Then Kayla tells me that the new K-State head coach, Travis Geopfert, wants to meet me. I was wearing a BEMA shirt and expecting to meet people that way. This was different and a little weird, but sure.

Kayla Tully, yours truly, Travis Geopfert (photo by Marty Solomon)

At some point during our brief conversation, as I am trying to share my amazement at what I am finding, they referred to my great grandpa, Ward Haylett, as “a legend.” If anything, I guess my family has been underselling his legacy.

Maggi and I discussed the above on episode 70 of Adventures with BAM.

Discovering Ward Haylett