To the generations of students who he taught in the Windsor Locks school system he was “Mr. Morrell,” the great teacher.  Few know that Bob Morrell was a track star the likes of which Windsor Locks has rarely seen.

Before graduating from Windsor Locks High School in 1965, Bob quickly established himself as an excellent runner on the state level.  He went undefeated in dual meets running the 100-yard dash and the 440 yard dash for all four years.  He set school records in the 100 yard dash, the 220 yard dash and the 440 yard dash.  The 100 yard dash record of 9.8 seconds still stands today.  Bob also set school records in the 600 and 300 yard runs in indoor track that still stand today.

On a state level, Bob won gold medals in the state championships in the 600 yard run 3 consecutive years, beating the prior state record in the event by 2 seconds his senior year.  During the outdoor state championships Bob earned four gold medals in his junior and senior years in the 100 yard dash and the 440 yard dash.  Bob set the then state record for the 100 yard dash at 9.9 seconds.  In 1965 Bob represented the State of Connecticut in the National Jaycees Track & Field Championships held in Houston, Texas where he  finished sixth nationally in the 220 yard dash.

Bob continued his education and his track career at Springfield College.  He set school records as a freshman, and on the varsity in the 220 and 440 yard runs and established himself as one of the top quarter milers in New England.  In his junior year Bob anchored Springfield College’s winning long distance medley relay team at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.  As a testament to his leadership qualities, Bob was named the captain of the Springfield College Track and Field teams his junior and senior years.

After college in addition to teaching for 36 years and raising his family, Bob found time to serve as the assistant track coach and a high school soccer official.  You can still see Bob running around Windsor Locks preparing for the next road race.