Thomas “Tom” McCracken, Class of January 1961, was chosen for induction into the Hall of Fame to acknowledge his success as a Cross-Country Coach and Educator. At Roosevelt, Tom played football, ran track, served on the Bwana staff and Student Council, and chaired the Intergroup Relations group. He went on to Southeast Missouri State University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and competed on SEMO’s track team in middle- and long-distance events.

After several years teaching and coaching in Cape Girardeau and Kinmundy, Illinois, Tom became a science teacher and cross-country coach at Lindbergh High School in 1969. What began with only a few runners quickly grew with 50 boys trying out. From 1972 through 1978, his cross-country teams achieved extraordinary success, winning six Class Four state championships in 1972 and from 1974 to 1978, and placing second in 1973 and 1979. According to Missouri State High School Athletics Association (MSHSAA) records, Lindbergh ranks seventh overall among high school cross-country programs; its five consecutive state championships rank third, and Coach McCracken ranks fifth among the winningest coaches in state history. Coach McCracken’s teams continued to excel into the 1980s, earning several district titles.

Coach McCracken understood that successful cross-country teams require more than race strategy and conditioning. Before sports psychology became widely recognized, he used Maxwell Maltz’s Psycho-Cybernetics to train runners to visualize success and build confidence before competing. He also emphasized physical preparation, taking teams on spring-break ski trips to Colorado, where they trained at high altitudes. In addition, he had the girls’ cross-country teams practice alongside the boys to strengthen both teams’ conditioning and race strategy.

In 2021, Coach McCracken and his student-athletes from the 1970’s were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of their achievements. He also received regional recognition in 1985, when the National High School Athletic Coaches Association named him Cross Country Coach of the Year for Region 5, which included Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Coach McCracken’s legacy extended well beyond awards. He took immense pride in the lasting influence he had on his athletes, many of whom became doctors, lawyers, educators, accountants, business leaders, husbands, and fathers. Their respect for him was reflected in the condolences posted to his online obituary and in the many who attended his funeral service. Todd Hildreth, an optometrist in Blue Springs, Missouri, spoke for many former athletes when he wrote: “I’ve had many coaches in my life, however, when I think of the word Coach, I think of him and only him. He was one of the most influential people in my life and he taught me so many things. So many valuable lessons that helped me become the man I am today.”

Coach McCracken’s success also carried into the classroom. He taught advanced science courses at Lindbergh High School and later at Clayton High School, where he became head of the science department in 1989 and retired in 2004. He taught International Baccalaureate courses at both schools, giving students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit before