The Victory Tabernacle Church of God recently presented Seaford alum Fred Abbott with a Blue Jay hat when he returned to his hometown to deliver an inspirational message to the congregation.
Abbott, a 1977 graduate, ran track competing in the half mile (800m) and the relay with teammates Boyd Taylor, Jim Cover, and Alex Fountain. His former coach John Hollis said of Abbott, “He ran the half mile in under two minutes.”
Seaford High School 1977 graduate Fred Abbott was given a Blue Jay hat on his recent visit to Seaford. In the photo with Fred Abbott is his wife Vickey as well as his high school track coach John Hollis and Seaford Fire Department chaplain, school board member, community volunteer, and friend Amore Rice, Jr. Photo by Paula Shannon
Hollis shared a memory, “The relay team entered the Colonial Relays and 4×8 two-mile relay and were seated in middle of entries. Fred was a great teammate and motivator, ran the anchor and ran 1:58, and won the relay. The three teammates also ran personal best times and ran it just over eight minutes.”
In 1977 events were run on the cinder track at the football stadium. Hollis said, “Fred holds the fastest half mile run on the track.” Another teammate Jim Cover is one of the three fastest runners in the one mile with Hollis being the fastest with a 4:24 on the old Seaford track. The 1977 Seaford track and field team won the Division II and Regional II championship, broke 13 school records and were 15-2 overall. The team was coached by John Hollis, Ron Dickerson, and Frank Caldro.
Abbott went on to run track in college then to a career in ministry in The Church of God. Abbott became the State Administrative Bishop of the Hawaii Church of God and served for 10 years before moving to Tennessee.
Abbott’s return to Seaford was celebrated and shared with his former college roommate and now Pastor Stacey Johnson of the Victory Tabernacle Church of God.
