GREENVILLE — Two longtime friends with deep ties to Greenville and cross country reunited Saturday morning at the Greenville City Schools Treaty City Invitational at Greenville City Park.
Dr. Alex Warner is a former Greenville teacher, coach and school board member and a graduate of Miami University. Warner retired in 2020 after 35 years in the chiropractic profession and more than 200,000 patient visits.
Ed Crawford, 89, is a Greenville and Darke County native, a Manchester University graduate and a 38-year Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) cross country official.
Warner was 23 when he coached Greenville’s cross country team in 1972 and 1973. He had recently returned to Greenville after spending a year at Greeneview and led the program while awaiting Dr. Steve Gruber’s graduation from Cedarville and return to Greenville to take over the team.
At the time, only boys competed in cross-country, and races were two miles long.
“I was a caretaker waiting for Steve Gruber to return because he knew what he was doing and I didn’t,” Warner said with a chuckle. “But we had a good time. We set up the Treaty City Invitational course in the rain the first year or two, and I’ve always enjoyed cross country.”
“Even though I didn’t know much about cross country, we had a competitive team both years with some good athletes, including Ty House,” Warner added.
Warner’s daughters, Alison and Lauren, also competed in cross country. Alison graduated in 1997, and Lauren graduated in 2001.
“Alison won the Bob Schul Invitational her freshman year and was a really good competitive runner,” Warner said.
Crawford officiated meets in which both of Warner’s daughters competed.
Crawford, who will turn 90 in March 2027, continues working OHSAA cross country meets because of the relationships he has developed through the sport.
“I enjoy it,” Crawford said. “I enjoy the kids and the coaches, and the parents come to know you. It works out well.”
Crawford was born in Greenville and lived in North Star during the first three years of his life, where his father served as principal of the community’s two-year high school.
His family later moved to the Portsmouth area, where they lived in Green Township – Franklin Furnace for two years, before moving to Cincinnati.
After graduating from high school, Crawford attended Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana. He later returned to the Greenville area before moving west and living in Phoenix for 16 years.
Crawford returned to the area to care for his aunt before moving to Cincinnati again in 2013.
With many veteran officials growing older, Crawford said younger people are needed to help officiate high school sports. He encourages them to become involved and is willing to help them learn.
“We have so many older officials, and they feel like they have to do it after they retire,” Crawford said. “I’m willing to mentor. In fact, I’ve talked to a couple of administrators about doing that.”
