Wes Santee American Olympic track athlete (1952 Summer Olympics), died from cancer he was , 78,

David Wesley Santee  was an American middle distance runner and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters died from cancer he was , 78,. Wes Santee was the top American miler in the 1950s and was considered a threat to be the first man to run a mile under four minutes.

(March 25, 1932 – November 14, 2010)

Born in Ashland, Kansas, Santee was nicknamed the "Ashland Antelope." Santee attended high school in Ashland, where he set a state record in the mile run. He later attended the University of Kansas where he set records in Cross Country and the mile and two-mile events. He was the Individual NCAA Cross Country Champion in 1953, while leading his team to the overall championship.
Santee competed in the 5,000 meters in the 1952 Summer Olympics at Helsinki, Finland, but did not win a medal. Three years later, Santee won the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City.^[1]
During this period, Santee was one of the top milers in the world, aspiring to become the first man to run a four-minute mile. His chief competitors were Great Britain's Roger Bannister and Australia's John Landy. On May 6, 1954, Bannister became the first to break the barrier with a time of 3:59.4. Seven weeks later, Landy surpassed Bannister's mark.
In early 1955, Santee came close to a four-minute mile of his own, with a time of 4:00.5, but he would never surpass this time. Shortly afterwards, Santee was suspended by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in a dispute over his amateur status. AAU rules at that time limited amateurs to $15 per diem expenses to cover food and lodging, and the costs of air travel. For three track meets over a nine-day period in May, 1955, Santee had been paid $1,127.85 of expenses ^[2]
In 1956, Santee was permanently barred from amateur events, ending his chance to surpass Bannister and Landy and also costing him a place in the 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne, Australia.
During his abbreviated career, Santee set world records in the 1,500 meter run, indoor 1,500 meter run and indoor mile.
Santee's track career, including his rivalry with Bannister and Landy and his troubles with the AAU, is chronicled in Neal Bascomb's 2004 book The Perfect Mile. A film based on Bascomb's book is currently under development.
He died of cancer in Eureka, Kansas on November 14, 2010 .^[3][4][5]

Acacia Fraternity

David "Wes" Santee became a member of the Acacia Fraternity during his stay at the University of Kansas. His accomplishments and successes are recognized by the fraternity as seen on the fraternity's website.
Story regarding of Santee belonging to Acacia Fraternity:
"Once, after a session of heckling from his Acacia fraternity brothers, Santee said he could beat them all in a race from Tonganoxie along Highway 10 to their house. He said each of the 28 house members could run half a mile, relay style, for the 14 miles, while he ran the entire length.
He beat them with plenty of time to spare."^[6]

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