Carroll Odom

Kokomo claimed seven IHSAA state track and field championships over a 14 year period from 1924-37 and Carroll “Boots” Odom was one of the major contributors, despite turning just 17 years of age at graduation.

Odom was a forward on the Kokomo basketball team while also contributing mightily for three seasons of track and field. In 1927, Odom led the Kokomo to the state team track championship, scoring 12 of his team’s 30 points. He won the 220-yard dash in :22.5, the third fastest time in meet history. He also took second in long jump and third in the 100-yard dash.

In 1928, Odom again excelled at the state finals, finishing as the top scoring athlete in the competition. He won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 8 3/4 inches and was a member of the victorious 880-yard relay team that finished with a time of 1:36.2. In addition, Odom finished second in the 100 and 220 dashes as Kokomo finished second to Gary Froebel in the final team standings.

A graduate of Purdue University’s School of Agriculture, Odom earned letters in 1930 and 1931 running for the Boilermakers. He was a member of the school’s freshman basketball and track teams, tying for first in the 100 dash at the Big Ten Conference freshman meet.

Odom, who died in 1975, is a member of the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.