Oliver E Dittus Jr. Class of 65

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Inducted Class of 2018

Attended Morehead State University 1965-1970
Earned a AB degree in Education and a MA degree in Education-Emphasis on Science. Served as a Graduate Assistant in the Education Department Teaching Science at Breckinridge Training School Taught at Tillden Hogg Elementary School 1971 Coached Volleyball/Track.
Taught at Tichenor Middle School 1971 – 1983
Served as Basketball Coach 5-6 grades, Served as Department Head in Science, Served as AD to the Middle School, and Coached Football at Lloyd High School 1973-1978 where he coached the Freshman team to an Un-defeated Freshman Conference Championship in 73, in 75 he moved to Varsity assistant and the team won the NKAC Championship, in 1976 the team was Un-defeated and won the AAA State Championship. Moved on to Coach Cross Country at Lloyd High School 1978 where the Boys team was Regional Runner-Up in 1980 and was named Northern Kentucky Boys Coach of the Year. In 1981he was commissioned into the Order of Kentucky Colonel, by Governor John Y. Brown.

While at Lloyd he served on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Striders Running Club where in 1983 He coached the 10 and Under boys to a National Title in Youth Athletics Cross Country and Runner Up at the TAC National Junior Olympics, assisted with an additional 4 age group titles at the National Championships and the club placed 25 runners on the All American Team. During this time he served as the Meet Director for the Five State Regional Meet for TAC in Cincinnati Ohio. In 1986 He was the Course Director for the National Cross Country Junior Olympic Championship Meet at Kings Island. On 4 other occasions he helped take Runners to National Championships, in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Nebraska, and California. Producing numerous Championships and All-American Runners.
In 1987 he was awarded the Presidents award from the Ohio TAC for his work at the National Championship.
In 1979/80 School Year and 1982/83 School Year the girls Track Team won the NKAC Championship and in 1983 the girls were Regional and Sectional Champions placing 5th at the state meet.

In 1983 Buddy moved to R.A. Jones Middle School in Boone Co, and Coached track where the1984 girls won the Regional and were runner-up in 1987. At Conner he coached Kathy Plank to State Titles in the 800 meter, 1600 meters and 3200 meter races Kathy’s time in the 1600 stood for 20 years as the state record . In 1986 he coached Jeff Plank to a State Title in the 3200 meter run. During this time he became Cross Country Coach as well and the Girls team was Regional Runners-up one year. He served as the Department Head in Science.

In 1992 Buddy moved to Ryle High School where he coached Track and Cross Country and officiated track meets as well. In 1993 he served as assistant Shot Put Judge at the KHSAA State Meet.

In 1994 Buddy moved to Conner Middle School where he served 6 years as the A.D. and officiated Track and Field. During his tenure as a State Track Official Buddy was assigned as a Regional referee from 1994 till 2016 in Track and Field as well as Cross Country. Buddy served as the head Shot Put Judge from 1995 till 2013. In 2014 Buddy was the Running Referee at the State Track Meet in 2016 he served as the Head Field Judge as well as Shot Put Judge also in these years Buddy Served as the State Cross Country Meet Referee on 7 different occasions. During this time a former member of his track team became an All-American High Jumper clearing 7 feet his sophomore and senior years at the University of the Cumberlands.

In 1999 Buddy was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015 Buddy was inducted into the USA TF – Kentucky Division – Hall of Fame for Track Officials and the Lloyd High School Hall of Fame as a member of the State Championship Football Coaching Staff. In 2016 Buddy was inducted in to the Dayton High School Hall of Fame.

Buddy retired from officiating in 2016 due to injuries to his back and knees.
Buddy served the Student Athletes of Northern Kentucky, State of Kentucky, Tri-State area and the Nation for 46 years as a Coach, Official, and Mentor. Many of his former runners are involved in coaching and frequently tell him “They want their kids to have the experiences they had under his coaching. He is often told how they tell their runners and own children “PMA,
Positive Mental Attitude in all you do.” Much the same way he told them.