| Summary: | William "Whitey" Overton, Jr. (left) and Fred Carley (right) were members of the Auburn Track Team at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in the mid to late 1940’s. Both were All Americans. Collectively, they won 5 straight SEC mile championships, Carley with 3 (46–48) and Overton the next 2 (49-50). Overton also won 4 straight 2 mile and cross country championships. Overton made the 1948 Olympic Team; Carley missed the trials because of a transportation snafu. While at Auburn, both won the ODK Cake Race and both were members of the Theta Chi Fraternity. Carley, a walk-on who received the first track scholarship offered by Auburn, served as the team captain for 2 years. He sandwiched between two active duty tours sufficient credit to earn 3 degrees from Auburn and for awhile played lead trumpet for the Auburn Knights. He was the Auburn cross country coach and assistant track coach for 3 years before being recalled to active duty. After graduating from Auburn, Overton continued his education at Ohio State where he received his Phd in Chemical Engineering and later accepted a job with Shell Oil. He married Louisa Flynn and had two children. He later married Ramona Overton and adopted her four children. Overton died July 1, 2015. Carley followed a professional career as a mechanical engineer, remaining active in track as a coach and related promotional activities in Mobile and Florida. His novel, “Bull-Durham, the Mischievous Sprite” was published in 2004. This picture was taken in December, 1946 for the Athletic Association. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Auburn University Libraries Cataloging Dept. at caudlda@auburn.edu.
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