Dr. Curtis Stone Memorial Track and Field Fund Established for Kent State Athletics
3/20/2026 11:09:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Kent State University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Curtis Stone Memorial Track and Field Fund, a scholarship created through a $750,000 gift from Sara Stone Miller, '77, M.M. '79, Ph.D. '85, and her late husband, Terry Ellis Miller, Ph.D. The fund honors the legacy of Sara's father, Curtis Charles Stone, D.Ed, a three-time Olympian, World War II veteran and educator.
Curtis, who served on Kent State's faculty from 1963 to 1985, was one of America's premier long-distance runners in the 1940s and 1950s. He represented the United States in the 5,000-meter event at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games, earning a sixth-place finish in London in 1948. He also won two gold medals at the 1951 Pan American Games and claimed 14 National AAU Championships.
"The Kent State Track and Field family is extremely grateful for the generosity of Dr. Sara Stone Miller and the lasting legacy of her husband, Dr. Terry Ellis Miller," said Head Coach Nathan Fanger, '00. "This unprecedented gift creates a scholarship that will support generations of student-athletes while honoring the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Curtis Stone. His life embodied excellence, perseverance and service, and this fund ensures that his memory will continue to inspire our student-athletes both on and off the track."
The scholarship fund will support Kent State student-athletes on the track and field team, covering expenses such as tuition, room and board, books, travel and equipment. Recipients must meet academic standards consistent with NCAA and Mid-American Conference eligibility and uphold values that reflect Curtis' legacy of excellence, integrity and service.
To learn more about the variety of ways to support Kent State Athletics, visit its online giving portal or email thegoldenflashesclub@kent.edu.
