The Wayne State University Department of Athletics will dedicate its newly renovated track this Saturday in honor of Lowell “Pat” Blanchard. “There is a remarkable history of athletic performance at WSU dating back to 1917 and Dr. Blanchard represents the start of that impressive tradition,” stated WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier.  “His athleticism, and more importantly his impact on the lives of so many after graduation, is a recognition that merits acknowledgement and accolade. Lowell and Lucille Blanchard have left a legacy for others in their gift and in how they lived their lives.” 

Blanchard, a native of Munson, Michigan, and graduate of Detroit Northwestern HS, was one of City College of Detroit’s early track and field stars, earning varsity letters in 1924, 1925 and 1926 as anchor and best runner on CCD’s mile relay squads. Blanchard also earned a varsity letter in football in 1924, before suffering a career-ending knee injury.  As a member of the Griffins’ mile relay squad, Blanchard and his teammates won several state and international titles during his three-year career at CCD. But the most impressive titles came in 1925 and 1926 at what many still consider today to be the true national championships in relay competition.  Though the NCAA now holds National Track and Field Championships in outdoor and indoor track, the Penn Relays are still considered the most prestigious relay championships to participate and compete in. That was true in the 1920’s as well. Serving as caption of his junior squad in 1925, Blanchard led the CCD squad to the Penn Relay College Division Mile Relay Championship, the first time a college squad ever won or even scored in the Penn Relays. Blanchard and company would return in 1926 to successfully defend their Penn Relay College Division Championship.  Blanchard set a record as the anchor of the mile relay squad, running several times at 0:51, including in the 1926 Penn Relays. He also set a CCD record of 0:56 in the 440-yard dash in 1924, and would again set that record, as well as the Michigan state mark, in 1926, putting in a time of 49.6 at the state championships.  Besides the Penn Relay championships, the Griffins’ mile relay squad won the 1925 and 1926 Michigan State Intercollegiate Indoor and Outdoor Championships, setting new record times both years. The squad also won the 1924 Michigan Amateur Athletic Union Mile Relay Championship. Individually at the MAAU, Blanchard captured the 1926 600-yard Run Championship with a record time of 0:54.15.  In football at CCD, Blanchard was a two-way player, playing back and linebacker on defense, and halfback on offense. His coach of both sports was Hall of Fame member David L. Holmes, a charter inductee in 1976. Holmes selected Blanchard as a member of his All-Time, All-Star City College Teams in the 1927 Griffin yearbook, noting Blanchard as the college’s best-ever runner in the 440-yard Dash and as a member of the Mile Relay squad. 

Known as “Pat” during his college days, Blanchard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1926. Invited to participate and train for the 1928 Olympics, Blanchard instead headed to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan Medical School, where he graduated in 1930.  For two years after graduation, Blanchard served on the staff at Harper Hospital, then headed to Hudson, Michigan, to serve for 52 years on the staff at Thorn Hospital in Hudson as a general practitioner. During his career at Thorn, Blanchard helped deliver over 5,000 babies. 

Blanchard and his wife, Lucile, had two daughters, Cynthia Cooke and Anne Gascoigne.

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