Bentley University

The Most Valuable Runner on the first varsity team in Bentley College history, Charles Curley played a key role in the formative days of the college's cross country program.
 
The 1963-64 academic year marked the first time in Bentley history that the college would sponsor athletics at the varsity level. However, when Charlie went down to sign up for the cross country team in the fall. he was told by athletic director Al Shields that the season might have to bc canceled due to a lack of participants.
 
Charlie went out and recruited three members of his car pool, even though none had ever competed in the sport before. The Wakefield, Mass. native also took responsibility for training his recruits since, due to conflicting part-time work schedules, they weren't always able to practice with the team.
 
Charlie was Bentley's top finisher in every meet that season, helping the Raoul Piche-coached Falcons to three wins.
 
The team's captain during the 1964 and 1965 seasons, Charlie worked closely with Piche to develop a rigorous training schedule for the squad. It obviously paid off, with the Falcons posting an impressive record of 12-3 in 1965, just their third varsity season.
 
Cross country wasn't the only activity for Charlie during his time at Bentley. He also was vice president of his class one year and a representative to the Student Council in two other years.
 
Since leaving Bentley, Charlie compiled an outstanding record of community involvement. He helped establish two scholarships in his hometown, one in memory of his college roommate, Peter B. Rich, who was killed in Vietnam, and the other in memory of high school classmates who-are deceased. He coached in the Wakefield Soccer Association and was a coach or officer in the Babe Ruth League for more than a decade. He also served as a town selectman.