Teacher and coach recognized for long term career, achievements

By Macy Douglas
Intern

Herman Bueno was recently honored for all his accomplishments over his long career at Southport Middle School. Bueno was honored for being a science teacher, as well as a track and cross-country coach. Bueno spent over 25 years as a teacher for Southport and graduated from Southport himself in 1976. During his time as a student at Southport High School, Bueno was an exceptional runner. He held the school’s records for distance events in cross country and track for nearly 40 years.
 
After graduating high school, Bueno went on to run cross country and track at the University of Indianapolis. During this time at UIndy, Bueno received numerous awards. He was a four-time Letter-winner in both cross-country and track and field, and four-time Cross Country MVP honoree. In 1977 and 1978, Bueno was two-time NCAA Track and Field National Qualifier; as well as two-time HCC Cross Country Outstanding Runner and two-time NCAA Cross Country National Qualifier in 1978 and 1979. In 1980, Bueno was the HCC Track and Field’s Most Valuable Runner. These are just a few of Bueno’s many accomplishments as a college athlete. 

In his career after college, Bueno coached several undefeated teams at Southport Middle School with career winning records of over 80 percent. He was inducted into the Southport High School Wall of Fame in 2004 and was University of Indianapolis Greyhound Club’s ‘I’ Person of the year honoree in 2006. The event to celebrate Coach Bueno’s career was held last Saturday at Southport Middle School. Many past students and runners, as well as work colleagues came to show their support, congratulate, and thank Bueno for his dedication to his job as teacher and coach.
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Bueno has also been an assistant and teacher at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and Time-Honored Crafts since it opened in 1993. He has assisted in over 80 classes over the years and attended many classes himself. Bueno has dedicated his life to helping both students and adults grow and learn. His dedication shows through the success of his countless students. 

Herman Bueno

Reprint courtesy of  the 1976
Southport Anchor yearbook

Sectional and county individual champ Herman Bueno, left, strides through the state meet. Herman was Coach Tom Hathaway’s number one runner almost every meet.

​Hathaway’s harriers worked morning and night to reach for a dream they thought was possible.
And sure enough they did. Taking first in the sectionals and regional wasn’t enought for the Cardinal crew as they rabled on to capture the trophy along with the glory of a state championship. Herman Bueno, Erhard Bell, David Kays and Kurt Hurley, the four horsemen, placed high enough along with junior Jim Booher beat a surprised Crown Point team which took second place honors. Sophomore Bob Browne and junior Kent Raker rounded out the seven-man punch. 
The Harriers dual meet record was 8-0 including a 17-47 romp over arch-rival Perry Meridian for the all-sports trophy. The Cardinals also won three invitations; the Pike Hokum Koren, Ben Davis invitational and the Howe Iinvite. They also displayed their pack in the county as they took that convincingly. 
Coach Hathaway starts his training program in the summer with a thousand-mile club starting in June. To obtain a shirt a runner has to run 500 miles before practice Aug. 13 so that he will have 1000 miles between June and September. Seniors Herman Bueno and Erhard Bell ran 900 miles.