Irvin S. Alexander '54

Irvin S. Alexander was an outstanding athlete at Mechanicsburg. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. After graduation he attended Bloomsburg University where he was a member of the football team, the wrestling team and the track and field team. After graduating from Bloomsburg, Irvin accepted a teaching position and a coaching job with the Middletown Area School District. He started out as the Junior High Football Coach and then moved up to the Varsity Team, coaching the backfield. He also coached the Junior High Wrestling Team, was appointed to Varsity Assistant and then took over the Head Coaching Position. Irvin was the Head Track and Field Coach from 1961-1972. His team won the League Championship in 1965 and the State Team Championship in 1972. He was selected as Middletown Coach of the year in 1971. Irv spent his entire teaching career at Middletown and retired in 1989. He was a 7th Grade Geography Teacher, 9th Grade Social Studies, Special Education and finally had the position as school administrator.

Irvin stayed active as well and ran in two Harrisburg Marathons. He was also a member of the Drug Free Powerlifting Association. He competed in many competitions and 79 trophies decorate his basement. He competed in the 145 to 160 pound weight class and at the age of 59 he set the world's record in the bench press for his age and weight when he lifted 365 pounds.

In 1994 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Irvin lives in Middletown with his wife Joan. They have two sons, Scott, a golf professional working in Denver and Wade, a Political Science Major at the Penn State University.