Froehlich Joins Bix “Bronze Legends” Rodgers/Samuelson

Life-size statue of race director added to growing field at Bix
Plaza

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Ed Froehlich does not miss much as
the long-time race director of the Quad-City Times Bix 7. However, his
race committee revealed a huge holiday surprise when it was announced that
Froehlich’s likeness will join the rest of the “Bronze” legends at the Bix Plaza
in front of the Quad-City Times building at East 4th Street and River Drive in
Downtown Davenport.

Froehlich’s statue will be unveiled as part of the buildup to
the 35th Bix 7 mile road race to be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009. The date is
significant as it coincides with his 30th year as race director.

The plan was put in motion while Froehlich and his wife Sandy
were out of town for a vacation. It was made official at a holiday gathering of
the committee on Dec. 3rd.

The bronze will display Froehlich in his familiar race-day
finish line pose – right hand in the air, wearing a billed cap and clutching a
piece of Bix 7 finish line tape. It joins previous honorees – Joan Benoit
Samuelson, Bill Rodgers, late jazz musician and Davenport native Leon
“Bix” Beiderbecke and longtime Quad-City Times columnist Bill
Wundram.

After assuming leadership of a race whose participants
numbered in the hundreds, Froehlich and his now 100-plus member race committee
have grown the Bix 7 weekend to upwards of 20,000 participants of all ages as
the Bix 7 has become a Midwest summer
tradition.

The event’s committee is well-regarded and the field
regularly features some of the preeminent names of international road racing
including past champions Rodgers, Samuelson, Meb Keflezighi, Colleen De
Reuck, John Korir and Catherine Ndereba.

Among Froehlich’s past honors are the Fred Lebow Lifetime
Achievement Award from the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Running USA
Hall of Champions – Class of 2005, Road Race Management’s National Race Director
of the Year, past president of the Professional Road Runners Organization (PRRO)
and a vice president of Running USA.‰ÛÓRunning USA Wire