Hall of Fame
Ernest Dalton competed in men’s track for four seasons, leading the team in scoring all four years. He also played one season on the freshman basketball team. He held school records for outdoor long jump, indoor long jump, intermediate hurdles and outdoor triple jump. Dalton also competed in the high jump, javelin, high hurdles and low hurdles. He held the Ohio Valley Conference broad jump record for one season. He competed in seven events in one meet. Dalton finished second in the Southeast Decathlon becoming the only EKU athlete to ever compete in a decathlon. He was asked by head coach Glenn Gossett to help the first African-American athletes to ever come to EKU to be accepted by their teammates. Although a teenager at the time, Dalton bonded the members of the team together. He drove them into the South for competitions, finding them places to stay and eat while being discriminated against along the way. Upon graduation, he taught gymnastics for one year and coached the cross country team for two seasons. Dalton was named the Outstanding Health, Physical Education and Recreation Student his senior year. Following graduation he returned to the Dayton area, teaching special education and serving the Carlisle school system as head basketball coach. He also served as a high school counselor and finally principal of Carlisle High School, a total of 23 years in the educational field.
