Colombia IV: A Different Kind of Peace Corps

They were seen as teachers, coaches, athletes, rock stars, spies, FBI agents, “mercenary yankis.” Here’s why.

By Jim Brown

 

Kay Gillies Dixon, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Colombia III – Urban Community Development), met and later married Kevin Dixon, another Peace Corps Volunteer in Medellin, Colombia. 

When asked what Kevin did, Kay would often reply (only half-jokingly), “Oh, Kevin was in a different kind of Peace Corps.”

For 60+ years, every Peace Corps group has been special and in its own way, different. But by Peace Corps standards and public perception, the Colombia IV physical education/coaching project (1962-64) took “different” to a new level. 

[Note: Colombia IV also included 27 English teachers who were assigned to the country’s universities.]

University-Specific Training

Colombia IV was the first Peace Corps group trained specifically for teaching, coaching, and administering programs at the university level. Every volunteer had a college degree. Several had begun graduate studies; one (Don Torrence) had a MA, another (John Roberts), a PhD. They were assigned to most of the major universities in Colombia, including those in Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Popayan, Pasto, Manizales, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Pereira, and Cartagena. 

Some assumed the role of athletic directors. Others focused on coaching basketball, track and field/cross, volleyball, cross country, swimming teams and individual athletes. Many helped Colombian teachers and administrators develop first-ever physical education programs at elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. 

 

Photo Caption: Four Colombia IV volunteers were assigned to universities in Medellin — Bob Atkins, Kevin Dixon, Bob Willey, and Rudy Salinas.

 

Accommodations

There was a perception that early Peace Corps volunteers lived in remote villages or low income barrios, sometimes without electricity or running water. Some in mud huts. Colombia IV volunteers received the same living allowance as other groups, but were expected to live in residences similar to those of Colombian university faculty members. 

Housing became an issue for a few. Two coaches and two English teachers lived in a dorm at La Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga for the first two months of their stay. Their Colombian supervisor told them that four new apartments had been built over a theater near the university, and he asked if the volunteers would be interested in renting one. 

They were interested, combined their living allowances, and moved into a third-floor apartment that had four bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and one-and-a-half bathrooms (a shower with hot water). No furniture, so again they used their allowances to sparsely furnish their new home. 

Word got out that Peace Corps volunteers were living in a “luxury” apartment. That news prompted visit from their in-country director, Ellis Carrasco. He explained to those who questioned the accommodations that the volunteers were expected to live in quarters similar to their Colombian counterparts. The apartment did not exceed that expectation. End of story.

But when volunteers from urban development and rural projects came into Bucaramanga and visited the apartment, they were 1) awe-struck and 2) envious. Around the country, volunteers in other Peace Corps groups who came into town for supplies or just to visit often stayed in Colombia IV housing.  

 

Photo Caption: Apartment owners over a theater in Bucaramanga allowed four Colombia IV residents to use the marquee for photos that became 1963 Christmas cards.

 

Spies, FBI Agents?

Most Peace Corps volunteers in Colombia during the early and mid-1960s encountered some form, usually mild, of political opposition. Colombia IV members got more attention because their work was conducted publicly in universities, stadiums, arenas, parks, pools, and outdoor courts. 

Although aware of the spying rumors, it did not affect Colombia IV’s work. They were never approached by any agency of the U.S. government to be spies or secret agents. In fact, if they had been associated with either the CIA or FBI, they would likely to have been selected out during training at Texas Western College (now UTEP) in El Paso. 

 

Photo Caption: The wall poster is an example of anti-Peace Corps sentiment held by a very small segment of Colombians.

 

AAHPER Support

Colombia IV was one of the first Peace Corps groups to have a supporting sponsor arrangement with a professional organization in the U.S. The American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, led by its director of international activities, Dr. Ray Ciszek, provided equipment, supplies, apparel (warm-ups and uniforms), and a fulltime in-country director, Ellis Carrasco. 

 

Photo Caption: John Roberts (wearing the iconic red, white, and blue Peace Corps warm-ups) and other volunteers conducted teacher training clinics throughout Colombia.

 

Carrasco became a legendary figure among Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, having served in several Latin American countries after Colombia. Colombia IV’s David Bohnke said, “For me, Ellis was a mentor, model, father figure, and a friend.”  

Photo Caption: Eliseo (Ellis) Carrasco served Colombia IV and other Peace Corps groups as director, mentor, and advocate.

 

Rock Stars?

Carrasco put together a team of nine Colombia IV members to form the first-ever (and only) official Peace Corps basketball team. The team traveled the country to play in front of sell-out crowds against local university and independent teams, and to hold training sessions for teachers and coaches.

“We were treated like rock stars,” remembers Dixon. Kevin, 6’7”, played basketball and baseball at the University of Denver. Don Curry, a 6’5” forward who starred at the University of Southern Mississippi, was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA. Nicknamed “El Famoso” by PC colleagues, he coached at La Universidad del Valle and won the national collegiate championship. While still in Colombia, Don was offered head coaching positions for the national teams of Venezuela and Ecuador.

 

Photo Caption: Colombia IV Basketball Team” Caption: Colombia IV had the first and only official Peace Corps basketball team. Its players were (front row, L-R) Bob Atkins, Jim Brown, Mike Town, David Bohnke; (back row) John Roberts, Don Curry, Kevin Dixon, Bill Cornwell, and Bob Willey. The picture was taken in 1963 at a military academy in Popayan.

 

Outreach

Colombia IV volunteers had skill sets beyond teaching, coaching, and playing. Kay Dixon says, “They went to rural sites to help Colombia I, II, and III volunteers organize fund-raising activities, teams, games, and sports events. That’s how I met Kevin.”

Photo Caption: Joe Melici” Caption: Joe Melici and Harry Cross introduced new physical education activities at a school in Tunja.

 

Different, Unique

So Kevin Dixon was not really in a different Peace Corps. He and his 26 colleagues in Colombia IV were in the United States Peace Corps but with a different mission. Not better than other Peace Corps groups — just different. They did not have to do the difficult work of volunteers in remote areas or crowded slums. But Colombia IV became one of the most successful and publicized projects of the Peace Corp’s first decade.

Retired trial judge Mike Town (Honolulu) went a step further than “different” in reflecting on his Colombia IV experience. “It was unique. We were allowed to figure out our own path. Colombia IV was a game-changer for me then; still is today.”