1939 Dipsea Champion Allan Nelson Dies

Allan Nelson, winner of the 1939 Dipsea, died on July 16, his family at his side. He was 92. Nelson was the last of the 1930’s Dipsea champions. His death leaves Don Pickett, who won in 1968, as the oldest (age 81) living Dipsea winner. Charlie Richesin (1946 winner) is the only remaining champion from the 1940s.

Nelson was just out of Cal when he won in ’39, by 20 seconds over Neil Decker (the man who first called Jack Kirk “The Dipsea Demon”). Nelson continued running for decades, but claims the Dipsea was his only win. He worked many years as a U.S. diplomat in Finland, the country of his ancestry, then more recently for Korbel Champagne.

I met Nelson several times. He was a true gentleman.

“Old Dipsea Runners Never Die, They Just Reach the 672^nd Step.”