AM21-047, circa 1978
Form of Material
Exterior sign from Finish Line Sports, located in the Village Green mall on North 25th Avenue. The store was operational from 1978-circa 1983.
Finish Line Sports served as the unofficial headquarters of the Hattiesburg Track Club. Regular Friday evening fun runs began and ended at the store. A popular 3-mile Turkey day run was staged on Thanksgiving morning. FLS was a convenient meeting spot for training runs.
The original owners of the store, Elmer and Ann Beardshall, were founding members of the Hattiesburg Track Club. They later sold out to a group headed by Tony Gilbert. The Hattiesburg Track Club gradually became defunct because of a lack of individuals interested in the administrative and race production duties. Local organizations like the Family Y, the Institute for Wellness and Sports Medicine, and the Hattiesburg Clinic picked up the task of producing road races.
Finish Line Sports played an important role in the growth of running and fitness in the Hattiesburg community.
Dates
- circa 1978
Creator
- From the Collection: Pendergrass, John L., M.D. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Extent
1 Item : Location: 113F
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Provenance
Given By: Dr. John L. Pendergrass M.D.
Date of Receipt: March 4, 2021
- Athletics. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hattiesburg (Miss.) -- History -- 20th century. Subject Source: Local sources
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
