Gilbert Lothair Dodds (June 23, 1918 – February 3, 1977), called "The Flying Parson", was an American middle-distance runner.

Gilbert Lothair[3] Dodds was born in Norcatur, Kansas,[4] one of five children and the son of Rev.

[4] Outdoors he set the American mile record of 4:06.5 in 1943 in Boston, finishing second to Sweden's Gunder Hägg.

[4] On March 11, 1944, Dodds broke the world indoor record for the mile run at the annual Knights of Columbus track meet in Madison Square Garden, New York City.

[11] His time of 4:07.2 broke the old record by 0.1 second, which was jointly held by Glenn Cunningham, Charles Fenske and Leslie MacMitchell.

[5] One week later, Dodds lowered his own world indoor mile record to 4:06.4 at Chicago Stadium on March 18, 1944.

One week before the Olympic Trials, he caught the mumps and injured his Achilles tendon and could not run the qualifying meet.

[13] As part of his ministry, Dodds used a personal story to explain the Scripture verse Hebrews 12:1, "let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress, and run with endurance the race that lies before us.

[10]Dodds married Erma Louise Seeger, whom he met at Falls City High School.