The History of U.S. Masters Swimming will be featured during a presentation at the International Aquatic History Symposium and Film Festival, May 9-12, at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The USMS presentation will be Thursday, May 10, at 7:30pm.
Meegan Wilson, Chair of the USMS History & Archives Committee, will introduce John Spannuth and Bob Beach. John Spannuth hosted the first National Masters Swimming Championships in 1970 in Amarillo, TX. He will present a brief history of USMS. Bob Beach, who was vice-chairman of the National Masters Committee of AAU between 1971 and 1977, will walk the audience down memory lane with a collection of photos and artifacts from the early days of USMS. The session will close with a screening of the We Are U.S. Masters Swimming - Promotional Video - YouTube promotional video.
Excellent presentation! Really brings me back. Found two correction and one addition.
Page 4: 1974 Long Course was at Santa Clara, not Santa Monica (Same meet directors as the 1980 meet)
Page 12: The unidentified blonde woman is Mildred Anderson
Page 15: It's Hamilton Anderson, Mildred's husband
The story about John Spannuth mentions he had the first YMCA meet in Reading in 1976. The same year, he hosted the first Syncromasters championship at the same Reading Y. Because I tagged along with my wife and her duet partner while they practiced, I learned a few moves and became the first male to compete in Syncromasters. I remember John B. Kelly, who was recruited by Spannuth to present the awards, wasn't sure what to say to a bearded, male sychro competitor.
It was great to chat with both Bumpy and Judge Beach at Greensboro, two fine gentlemen and great pioneer Masters swimmers.
The Andersons were the original organizers for Masters swimming in Houston and really got me in to Masters.My very first meet was in the pool in their backyard.They had 2 pools,a 20 yd outdoor pool and a 10 yd indoor pool and they let Masters Swimmers just come over and workout pretty much any time.
Excellent presentation! Really brings me back. Found two correction and one addition.
Page 4: 1974 Long Course was at Santa Clara, not Santa Monica (Same meet directors as the 1980 meet)
Page 12: The unidentified blonde woman is Mildred Anderson
Page 15: It's Hamilton Anderson, Mildred's husband
The story about John Spannuth mentions he had the first YMCA meet in Reading in 1976. The same year, he hosted the first Syncromasters championship at the same Reading Y. Because I tagged along with my wife and her duet partner while they practiced, I learned a few moves and became the first male to compete in Syncromasters. I remember John B. Kelly, who was recruited by Spannuth to present the awards, wasn't sure what to say to a bearded, male sychro competitor.
It was great to chat with both Bumpy and Judge Beach at Greensboro, two fine gentlemen and great pioneer Masters swimmers.
The Andersons were the original organizers for Masters swimming in Houston and really got me in to Masters.My very first meet was in the pool in their backyard.They had 2 pools,a 20 yd outdoor pool and a 10 yd indoor pool and they let Masters Swimmers just come over and workout pretty much any time.
