Billy Dalton (2016) - Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Billy Dalton

Class

1969
Induction

2016
Sport(s)

Track & Field

Billy Dalton was a three-year letterman in track and a captain in his senior year. He also was a letterman on the Holy Cross football team. Dalton went undefeated in pole vault competitions his senior year, and won district as a senior in both the pole vault & high jump. At the conclusion of the 1969 track season, he was selected as the Times-Picayune Field Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was the first-ever state high school pole vaulter to clear 14 ft. He would compete on the college level at USL (currently UL-Lafayette) breaking the USL school pole vault record. As a leader on the Ragin Cajun team, he became the Southland Conference Champion (1972), and was named an All-American (1972 & 1973). He competed in the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Trials in the pole vault, and qualified for the Olympic trials in the decathelon, but could not compete in this event due to injury. Dalton was Invited to the New Orleans Breakers USFL camp after hitting the gondola in the Superdome during tryouts.

Holy Cross accolades:

Three-year Letterman for the Tiger track team

Captain of the track team in his senior year

Catholic League pole vault champion as a senior

Times-Picayune Field Athlete of the Year as a senior

First high school pole vaulter to clear 14ft

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