The 78-year-old from Quincy, Ill., is just four years removed from a third-place finish in the National Senior Games in the pole vault. Then, he eclipsed the mark of 7 feet, 6 inches.

Above, St. Charles's Donald Young competes in the 55-59 javelin competition. Young, who is fighting throat cancer, cannot talk because of recent surgery.  Below, St. Louis' Loretta Hopgood compters in teh 60-64 shot put Ed Pfueller photos

But yesterday, under a blistering sun at Walton Stadium, Dewell failed to clear 6-0, the lowest possible setting in the event, at the Missouri State Senior Games.

After hitting the bar twice, the official had the bar lowered to five feet, which is below regulation height.

Dewell hit the bar again.

Being the upbeat person he is, Dewell gathered himself, smiled at his onlookers and jogged straight to one of his multiple events on the day. In all, Dewell will compete in 22 events during the four-day competition, with over half of them taking during yesterday’s track and field events.

Dewell became fatigued right before his final jump in the pole vault.

"I ran out of gas before I got to the pit!" Dewell shouted.

The track events began at 9 a.m. with the pole vault taking place at 10 a.m. By that time he had competed in accuracy and distance in football and softball, shot put and the 50-meter dash.

"I’m just warming up for the nationals," said Dewell, a retired assistant principal. "I want to be perfect."

Dewell is a veteran of these games, having gone through senior "circuits" throughout the Midwest over the past 15 years.

This year he plans to take part in senior games in Kansas City, St. Louis, Poplar Bluff, Perryville, Des Moines, Iowa, Springfield, Ill., and next month’s national competition in Baton Rouge, La.

Robert Cole, left, passes Kevin Shaner at the finish line in a 100-meter dash heat in the 50-54 year-old category. Ed Pfueller photo

"You’d think I’d be in shape after all these games," he said. "It’s a shame. But without these games I wouldn’t get a good workout."

Making the trip with Dewell from Quincy to many of these senior games, including the Missouri games, is 74-year-old Ray Schumann, one of Dewell’s former players when he coached then-basketball power Hannibal-LaGrange.

The school went to four junior college final fours between 1952 and 1957.

Schumann, showing he hasn’t lost his shooting touch, was one of the stars during Friday’s basketball competitions, hitting all of his 25 free throws and making 14 of 15 shots in the around the world event.

Schumann is in his final year competing in the 70-74 age group and looks forward to next year when he moves up to Dewell’s 75-79 group.

"Every time you get to the end of your age group the competition gets tougher," said Schumann, a retired junior and high school teacher. "Every year there are younger guys entering your age group, but next year I’ll be one of those young guys going against guys like old Howard here.

"I think I’ll have the upper hand in some of his events."

Germantown, Pa., native Carol Stricklin finished first in the 55-59 high jump competition.  She also won the age category's shot put title.  Ed Pfueller photos

The two have become close friends since they began competing in the senior circuits together 20 years ago. The two show that they are linked by wearing their gray "Old Guys 555" team shirts. They were one player short to compete in Friday’s 3-on-3 basketball competition.

Dewell doesn’t want that to happen again.

He said, "We hope we can recruit one more player to join our team for next year’s Missouri games."