William E. Morton has held Church Farm School’s javelin record of 191’4” since 1956, the year he graduated at the age of 17. Bill joined the Church Farm School community at 14, halfway through the 1952-1953 school year. After bouncing around as a child between different homes, he says Church Farm gave him the structure and stability he desperately needed. He participated in the only three sports offered at the time: track & field, cross-country, and basketball. Bill recalls competing in almost every event except sprints under Coach Earl Wilkins ‘26. During his sophomore and junior years, Bill practiced with a metal javelin, with a record of 159’. Instead of playing basketball in his senior year, he dedicated all his time to javelin practice.

 

Coach Wilkins purchased a wooden javelin aerodynamically designed to go farther in March of 1956. He hit 191’ on his first try. Bill then set the school’s javelin record of 191’4”, which has yet to be broken. After Church Farm School, Bill had a 34-year career with Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania and AT&T before retiring in the 1990s.