University of South Dakota Athletics

Charlie Cook was an outstanding track and field performer from 1948-51 at South Dakota. Cook won North Central Conference championship in the 220-yard low hurdles (25.5) in 1951 for head coach Dan Lennon's track and field team. An outstanding student, he also participated in football, lettering in both 1949 and 1950. He earned three track letters (1949-51). After attending USD, he attended Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the California Institute of Technology where he was head track coach in 1952. Later, he became head of nuclear physics for Convair Corporation in San Diego. After holding various positions with the Department of Defense, he became under deputy secretary of the Air Force in 1974. He has continued his athletic pursuits and was the 1972 Washington, D.D. Public Parks senior tennis champion before getting runner-up honors in 1973. In 1975, he teamed with son, William, to win the Eastern Clay Court father-son championship.