Loren Drum

Moved to Omaha,NE in summer of '60 and graduated from Omaha Westside HS. At Westside was polevaulter and wanted chance to run and get medals my teammates were winning. Won first race and after 6 races rec'd Track Scholarship to Nebraska at Omaha. Earned 6 letters in track/cc. Graduated '66 with BS Civil Engr and Comm in AF. Served 6 years as AF Construction Engineer with one year in Vietnam and Recd Bronze Star. Was selected as Team Member for US Modern Pentathlon Team (five events of Running, Swimming, Fencing, Shooting and Riding) training for '68 Olympics. Was on '67 Little Olympic Team but was 8th place in '68 O Trials and did not make O Team. Went to Vietnam. Reset to Team in 1970 and was member of World Championship Teams in 1970 and 71 earning 8th individual place and Bronze Medal at '71 World Championship. Was Gold Medalist at the 70, 71 and 72 World Military Championships. Was Member of 72 Olympic Team and recd 4th place with handshake, but no medal. Was one of the athlete founders of USOC Athletes Advisory Council after "72 Games and was elected Sectr'y 1973-80. Elected to USOC Executive Board 1975-1980 and served on USOC Site Selection Committee for the 1980 Winter Games at Lake Placid and the 1984 Games at Los Angeles. Elected by Olympians to represent them with negotiations directly with US President Carter to resolve boycott of 1980 Moscow Games. Three days at White House but, unfortunately, Carter prevailed. Founded general contracting firm in 1970 to build homes and commercial buildings. Became one of the largest commercial roofing contractors in US by 1986. Suffered through Texas oil and construction down-turn in 1985-88 and earned personal battle scars while completing 78 major commercial contracts in progress simultaneously and lived to tell about it. Developed Engineering Inspection business in 1986 that has been one of the largest firms inspecting homes and commercial properties for the San Antonio statistical area. Developed and continue developing commercial resort properties at
Caynon Lake and along the Guadalupe River in Comal County Texas-see Web: drumresorts.com
Married Debbie Diller (Belleview, KS and K State grad) on New Years Eve 1980-30 years ago. Combined our families: 2 boys from my former marriage and 1 daughter from hers. One of my sons went to West Point and is an officer with a national software developer. One son is in nursing school after being a medic in Army and County Music star in Germany. Daughter works for us and is a Brain Cancer survivor from age 17-now 41-wow, what a miracle from God!
Have 50 lot subdivision on mountain top along Guadalupe River that we are starting to develop. Otherwise, not much happening-Ha!

I have realized that I was a Nerd in school while at Highland Park-born in September and smaller that other boys-plenty of bullying occurred with at least 20 pairs of glasses broken over the early years-you know who you were, bullies! As a new freshman I went out for football-never missed a minute of practice, went to every game and was the only boy that never played a minute of any game. Then, went out for track and ran a quarter mile the first day, finishing first-about killed me. Nobody said anything to me and so I quit and got a job and bought a car. Went out for basketball and couldn't even get selected for being manager. Learned to pole vault with my back yard neighbor Kenny Marquart. Moved to Omaha, went out for football-was fastest at tryouts but not selected for team. Went for track as polevaulter-won green and yellow ribbons-asked coach for try-out to run. Won first race with Nebraska fastest high school time of year in half mile. Ran six races and received Track ride to Nebraska. After college made World Teams and Olympic Team in sport of Modern Pentathlon (only Nebraskan in '72). I guess it must have been pent up desire to to do something in sports, after all the years of being pushed aside. I read Psycho Cybernetics and read how to picture yourself winning or reaching any other goal. I just developed that mental capacity to never think negatively-has worked ever since. I wish I had known more about Will Power and Positive Thinking when in high school-might have kicked some ass rather than sucking wind!