Bridgewater College

VIDEO: MERLE CROUSE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

In the spring of 1949, Merle Crouse burst onto the Bridgewater College track and field scene in record-setting fashion. He quickly set new school records by running the mile in four minutes, 34.6 seconds. Merle led the track squad to four dual meet wins and the Virginia Little Six championship. That was only the beginning of a dominating run for both cross country and track and field teams. Under the direction of Harry G.M. Jopson, Merle led the cross country team to the championship of the Virginia Little Six and the Mason-Dixon Conference every year. Merle broke his own mile record in 1951 with an effort of four minutes, 23.6 seconds.

In 1951, Merle ran two miles in nine minutes, 22.5 seconds. He placed third among 38 competitors in the Penn Relays. After graduating cum laude in 1952 with a B.A. degree, Merle held the school records in the 880 mile and two-mile runs. During his senior year in 1952, he was class vice-president and May Day King.

Merle went to Bethany Theological Seminary and obtained a Bachelor's of Divinity degree in 1958. He briefly returned to Bridgewater from 1962-63 to take courses in Spanish literature and assisted in coaching the cross country team. Subsequently, he earned a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1966.

As a church leader, Merle has traveled the globe doing his ministry work for the Church of the Brethren. From 1952-54, he did volunteer service in Germany, Turkey and Holland. From 1958-69, he worked as a youth minister in Chicago and as a missionary for the Foreign Mission Commission in Ecuador. Merle worked as the Church Development Consultant for Africa, India, Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 1978, he has been Director of Church Development Parrish Ministries Commission. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Bridgewater College.

Merle Crouse's athletic achievement and subsequent leadership in service and ministry serve as testimony to his selection to the Bridgewater College Hall of Fame.