 The Southern Section was the outgrowth of a track and field meet.The Southern Section was founded on 
March 29, 1913, when a group of high school officials joined forces to conduct a track championship meet.Seth F. Van Patten, who served as Track Manager for the Southern Section in 1913 and is recognized as 
the founding father of the CIF-SS, served in that post until 1928 when he was officially named Secretary of the organization.