FERNANDINA BEACH, FLA. — Former newspaper
editor-reporter Bob Spiegel, who wrote five books on Drake athletics, died at
his home Monday. He was 87 years old.
Spiegel was a long time historian on the Drake Relays,
having attended 64 Drake Relays.
He authored four books on the history of the Drake Relays:
“The Drake Relays-50 Golden Years”; “Drake Relays: 75 Years of
Excellence”; “The Link: Drake Relays: Olympics”; and “The
Drake Relays Centennial” published in April.
The 1943 graduate of Drake also wrote a book on the
Drake’s march to the 1968-69 NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament titled,
“Here We Go Bulldogs, Here We Go…”
Following military service, Spiegel was a reporter for the
Des Moines Tribune for 19 years. He was editor of the Mason City (Iowa) Globe
Gazette for 10 years and editor of the Wisconsin State Journal for 15 years.
“I think I speak for track and field enthusiasts
around the country in wishing I had spent more time with Bob Spiegel,” said
Drake Relays director Brian Brown.
“Fortunately, Bob has given all of us much insight to
his love affair with track and field through his books on the Drake Relays
which will be part of his legacy.
“But his personality, integrity and his character
will remain with us forever.”