As a 14-year-old freshman at Tinley Park High School, future University of Illinois star Rob Mango was focused on two things: running and visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. Following weekend track meets, his parents would shuttle him to 111 S. Michigan Avenue, where he attended classes and devoured the paintings of Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso.
Mango credits his mother for creating his passion for literature and fine arts.
"Every morning my mother prodded me in the direction of literature and the American poets and authors who she was most familiar with," he said.
Once Mango arrived at the University of Illinois on a partial track scholarship, the middle-distance ace trained with long-distance teammates Lee LaBadie, Mike Durkin and a young Craig Virgin.