Mechanicsburg Area High School
Alumni Association
Hall of Fame
Irvin S. Alexander was an outstanding
athlete at Mechanicsburg. He
participated in football, basketball,
baseball and track and field. After
graduation he attended Bloomsburg
University where he was a member of
the football team, the wrestling team
and the track and field team.
After graduating from Bloomsburg,
Irvin accepted a teaching position and
a coaching job with the Middletown
Area School District. He started out
as the Junior High Football Coach and
then moved up to the Varsity Team,
coaching the backfield. He also coached
the Junior High Wrestling Team, was
appointed to Varsity Assistant and
then took over the Head Coaching
Position. Irvin was the Head Track and
Field Coach from 1961-1972. His team
won the League Championship in 1965
and the State Team Championship in
1972. He was selected as Middletown
Coach of the year in 1971. Irv spent his
entire teaching career at Middletown
and retired in 1989. He was a 7th
Grade Geography Teacher, 9th Grade
Social Studies, Special Education and
finally had the position as school
administrator.
Irvin stayed active as well and
ran in two Harrisburg Marathons. He
was also a member of the Drug Free
Powerlifting Association. He competed
in many competitions and 79 trophies
decorate his basement. He competed
in the 145 to 160 pound weight class
and at the age of 59 he set the world’s
record in the bench press for his age
and weight when he lifted 365 pounds.
In 1994 he was inducted into the
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Irvin lives in Middletown with his
wife Joan. They have two sons, Scott,
a golf professional working in Denver
and Wade, a Political Science Major at
the Penn State University.
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