Bob Van Peursem, 1971, Track, Football

Bob Van Peursem, a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track, was a unique Brewer High School athlete reaching state championship honors in two sports: track and football. In both sports, he leveraged his sprinter’s speed.

At Brewer High School, Van Peursem’s outdoor track performances were impressive. As a sophomore, he made an impact as a member of the 880 yd. relay team which earned the silver medal at the 1969 Class A State Championship and established a new school record in that event in 1969.  He was also a member of the 880 yd. relay that obliterated the PVC record in 1970.  By his junior year, Van Peursem was the high point scorer on the 1970 track team.  At the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships in his junior and senior years, Van Peursem absolutely dominated his competition winning the 440 and 100 yd. events and winning the 220 and 440 at the Eastern Regional Championships.  He set the PVC 440-yard record, in 50.3 seconds in 1970, which stood for 46 years.  He had 3rd place finishes in the 220 and 440 at the 1970 Class A State Meet.  Van Peursem ended his Brewer track career as the 1971 State Class A 440-yard Champion in 50.8 seconds and a 3rd place finish in the 220.  Unfortunately, indoor high school track in Maine did not begin until 1973, thus preventing Van Peursem from undoubtedly garnering additional championship titles.  

Van Peursem remains to this day one of the best Brewer track athletes of all time.  Overall, after 49 years at BHS, Van Peursem still has the third fastest all-time 440 yard/400meter time of 50.3 seconds and is tied for 4th for the fastest all-time 220 yard/200 meter with a time of 22.8 seconds. His school record set in 1970 in the 100-yard dash of 10.3 seconds, converted to 100 meters, would be ranked 4th all-time.

Van Peursem used his great track speed, toughness and intelligence on the undefeated 1970 Brewer State Championship Football Team, as a 2nd Team All-State halfback. Ranked the 3rd leading scorer in the state, he scored 88 points his senior year, 2nd highest on Brewer’s team, and rushed for 751 yards on 95 carries for 7.9 yards per carry. During the state championship game with Brewer down by 7 points in the first quarter, Van Peursem scored the first touchdown for the Witches and continued throughout the game to be a major contributor to his team’s victory and its 1st place ranking in New England and 5th place ranking in the US.  He was named the team’s Most Improved Player for 1970.

Van Peursem, a member of the National Honor Society and President of the “B” Club and Key Club, was an excellent student at BHS. He was awarded the John McKernan Memorial Scholarship Award for his academic excellence, athletic ability and character and received a scholarship grant to the University of Maine; he also received the BHS Don Harnum Scholarship. 

At the University of Maine, Van Peursem represented BHS in grand style. He was an outstanding and record holding runner on the UMaine track team for four years.  At the 1972 Maine AAU Track Championships, he was named the “Outstanding Performer” by winning the 220, 440, and 2 relays.  He set the University’s indoor 600-yard record in 1:11.8, anchored UMaine’s record setting mile relay team, and was named All-Yankee Conference indoors in 1975. Van Peursem’s career personal best times were: 100 yards- 10.3 seconds, 220 yards-22.2 seconds, 440 yards-49.4 seconds, and 600 yards-1:11.8.  He was the indoor and outdoor team captain his junior and senior years and received eight varsity letters. Van Peursem was also named Maine’s “Outstanding Senior Track Man” in 1975 and was the first recipient of the University of Maine’s prestigious “Gold M” Award.  

Bob Van Peursem graduated from UMaine in 1975 with a BS in engineering, and has worked in construction engineering, computer engineering, and co-founded a telecommunications & systems integration company. He and his wife, Mary, currently live in Arizona and have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF BOB VAN PEURSEM

Bob Van Peursem with his sons/presenters Nathan (left) and Nels (right)