On June 28, 2016 Team Somerset's last original member, Mildred Kugler, 91, passed away in Tennessee. She was the 1940 National Womens Champion and was inducted into the Somerville High School Sports Hall of Fame and the US Bicycling Hall of Fame. Mildred attended the 75th Anniversary celebration of Team Somerset and was proud of all our members and their accomplishments. That gathering was only 5 years ago and she drove all the way from TN to NJ!
Rest In Peace Mildred and thank you for your encouragement and spirit.
U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame
Biography:
Born in Somerville, NJ in 1925. Mildred started to race at the age of 14 and in 1939 was 2nd in the State Championships and 4th at the National Championships held in Columbus, Ohio. In 1940 won the NJ State and U.S. Women National Championship held in Detroit, Michigan. The same year the Senior, Junior and Women titles were won by the same club, town & coach. She was NJ State Champion in 1941 and placed 3rd at the national in Pasadena, CA. On August 23, 1942 she set the unpaced records for women in the One, Two, Three, Four and Five mile distance at Brookdale Park, NJ. In 1942 won the NJ title again and retired at seventeen. Came back in 1952 winning the NJ State and placed 3rd at the national. In 1953 became State Champion at the age of 28. She won and placed in many races in her cycling career.