The best collegiate distance runner in New York during the mid-1960's, Robert Lalley won an unprecedented four State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) cross country championships and captured three straight New York State cross country titles during his illustrious career.
The Binghamton, N.Y., native was an undefeated and New York State scholastic champion in the one-mile run at Chenango Valley High School.
A secondary social studies major at SUNY Cortland, Lalley shattered course and meet records in taking 33 first place career finishes for the Red Dragon cross country squads. His unselfish leadership helped Cortland remain undefeated in cross country during the 1964 and 1965 seasons. An All-American, he placed 15th in 1963 and fifth in the 1964 NCAA College Division national meets.
In track and field, Lalley set school records in the mile and two-mile runs and won the New York State and the NCAA Eastern Regional titles in both events in 1964. He won the Red Letter in cross country as a sophomore, junior and senior.
He earned both his bachelor’s degree in 1966 and his Master of Science in Education in 1968 from SUNY Cortland.
Lalley taught secondary social studies in the North Syracuse (N.Y.) School District from 1967-2002. He was chosen to participate on a statewide team of educators charged to prepare New York’s ninth grade social studies Regent’s Exam. He was named to a group of educators who developed the district and state economics curriculum.
He organized and coached the first junior high cross country team in the North Syracuse School District in 1967. He then coached the varsity boys cross country team at North Syracuse High School and the Cicero (N.Y.) boys and girls track teams. He was the North Syracuse Teachers Union building representative for 32 years.
Since 2002, Lalley has been the assessment administrator for the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Within his community, he has been active distributing food for the Brewerton Community Food Pantry, working with beautification projects for the Saddle Creek Neighborhood Association, assisting Brewerton Elementary School with its Science Fair and Career Day, and serving as a religious education instructor with St. Agnes Church.
In 1977, Lalley was inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Section IV Hall of Fame. He becomes the second father-son combination to be inducted into the Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame. His late father, Ernest Lalley ’33, was inducted in 1987.
He and his wife, Lauren, have four daughters: Noelle, Jennifer, Vanessa and Amanda.
