William J. Falk ’49

William J. Falk ’49, of Narragansett, R.I.; Sept. 7. A notable track and field coach, he began full-time teaching and coaching in 1952 at Attleboro (Mass.) High School. Within three years his track team won a state crown. In 1956, he joined the faculty of Hope High School in Providence, also teaching and coaching track, and piloted Blue Wave teams to six successful seasons. He was both head and assistant coach of track at URI for 18 years, during which time he won five New England Coach of the Year awards while coaching five All-Americans, five IC4A titlists, and 20 New England champions. In 1960, together with Brown University trainer Jack McKinnon, he founded M-F Athletics, marketing molded heel protectors. His “athletic heel” was not confined to track and field athletes, but for a time was also used by members of the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and Boston Celtics. He attended the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome to observe Olympic activities in his field of coaching, but also to ensure that the device was available to all who wanted it, eventually supplying several countries with the M-F Athletic Heel. He started M-F Track & Field catalog in 1968, which grew to become a leader in its field. His son now runs the company. During his career, he received numerous coaching awards, including induction into the URI Athletic Hall of Fame and the Rhode Island Track Coaches Hall of Fame. He is survived by a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; and three grandchildren.