Joe King mentored dozens of runners decades ago when he was a track and cross-country coach at Encinal High School. Now the school hopes his legacy will continue to inspire students.

Saturday night Encinal will honor the 83-year-old King — who still runs competitively — by inducting him into its Athletic Hall of Fame.

Along with King, the school will honor both former football coach Jim Barberi and George Cadwell, the former head of the physical education department, as well as George Read, who coached Willie Stargell as a Jets baseball player before Stargell went on to a legendary career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When King accepts the honor Saturday night, however, he said he will mostly think about Don Grant.

The two men shared coaching duties at Encinal from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s.

"There has never been a coach more dedicated than Don in terms of devoting his time to the kids," King said.

A glance at the record books shows just how accomplished King remains as a runner.

Less than two years ago — when King was 81 — he set an indoor record in Boston for his age-group, running 800 meters in 3 minutes and .76 seconds.

The Alameda Journal columnist also set a world record in 1991 at a world meet in Finland, while six years ago he was inducted into the Dipsea Hall of Fame for his outstanding performances during the annual 7.4-mile race.

The Dipsea, which begins in Mill

"I work out at least five times a week," said King, who now lives in Oregon. "Sometimes, it's six. I usually try and take a day off each week."

King began his running career at Oakland's Technical High School, where he graduated in 1944.

During World War II, he served as a radio operator with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Western Pacific before he attended the University of California, Berkeley on the GI Bill. He graduated from Cal with a degree in physical education.

In 1959, King joined the staff at Encinal, where he taught English and U.S. history and served as a counselor.

He also launched the high school's psychology program.

King retired in 1979.

His wife, Janet, was also an educator: She taught at Otis and Longfellow elementary schools.

"She taught them how to read," King said. "I told them what to read."

King said he would sometimes use his classroom as a way to inspire kids to get outside and put their feet on the track, knowing that running requires as much mental as physical stamina.

It worked: Up to 50 kids at a time would run cross-country for the Jets when King served as coach.

"I tried to make it fun," he said with laugh. "How do you make hard work fun? It isn't easy, but believe me, it can be done."