Louis 'Dewey' Slater, 65, Dies After 1500 at U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../35580.asp
Dewey & I had agreed to count for each other during the 1500 at Nationals but I ended up not entering the meet. I feel guilty for not being there with him, but also relieved that I did not have to witness the death of a friend.
I don't think he ever posted on this forum, but he did lurk a lot and was a regular reader of pwb's High Volume workouts.
At 2009 SC Nationals, he tackled the ultimate double, racing the 1000 and 1650 on the same day, placing top 3 in both. The next morning, he came back and finished 3rd in the 400 IM.
Several years ago, our main coach commented that he would prefer to die either on his bike, or while coaching a hard swim set. Dewey said he would want to go during a race.
Too sad. I didn't know him and feel like I lost a friend. Seems like we shared similar values; we're almost exactly a year apart in age. The swimming world will miss his good karma, and I hope his family and friends will soon be able to cherish all of the memories from such a terrific person.
On completion and life, as my parents taught me (see bold part below):
"You'll find the road is long and rough, with soft spots far apart,
Where only those can make the grade who have the Uphill Heart.
And when they stop you with a thud or halt you with a crack,
Let Courage call the signals as you keep on coming back.
"Keep coming back, and though the world may romp across your spine,
Let every game's end find you still upon the battling line;
For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes - not that you won or lost - but how you played the Game."
Excerpted from Alumnus Football by the immortal Grantland Rice.
RIP Dewey, swim towards the light.
Too sad. I didn't know him and feel like I lost a friend. Seems like we shared similar values; we're almost exactly a year apart in age. The swimming world will miss his good karma, and I hope his family and friends will soon be able to cherish all of the memories from such a terrific person.
On completion and life, as my parents taught me (see bold part below):
"You'll find the road is long and rough, with soft spots far apart,
Where only those can make the grade who have the Uphill Heart.
And when they stop you with a thud or halt you with a crack,
Let Courage call the signals as you keep on coming back.
"Keep coming back, and though the world may romp across your spine,
Let every game's end find you still upon the battling line;
For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes - not that you won or lost - but how you played the Game."
Excerpted from Alumnus Football by the immortal Grantland Rice.
RIP Dewey, swim towards the light.
