Passing of Charlie Hickox

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

knelson — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:49:33 GMT

You might want to try to reach Gary at the Race Club website. Haven't seen him around here for a while.

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Former Member — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 05:02:29 GMT

Hi Gary, I would love to post this statement on our dedication website for Charlie. I am Charlie's son-in-law and created the site to memorialize his life and would love to add your words to it. Thank you. Nicholas Mattson www.charleshickcox.org info@nicholasmattson.com

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:17:27 GMT

Sorry to hear about another great swimmer to pass away at a young age. Thanks to all for the wonderful tribute.

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Former Member — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:32:32 GMT

Charlie Hickcox was one of the fiercest competitors I ever knew. I had the honor of being both his teammate on the 1968 Olympic Team and his swimmer, as he coached me to my third Olympic Team in 1976. In 1968, even though we were competitors in the 400 IM and I was the new kid on the block, not once did he ever try to intimidate me or psyche me out. In fact, he did nothing but support me and encourage me. We fought stroke for stroke in the finals of the 400 IM. When we both came up, gasping for air after the 350 meter turn, he breathing right and me breathing left, looking at each other eye to eye, I remember saying that on the next stroke, I would make my move, well ahead of the 375 meter mark, when I thought he would make his. I was wrong. When I looked up again I saw Charlie's shoulder and try as I did to catch him, I never did. He won the gold medal and was the best in the world. Charlie's treatment of me on that Olympic team was one of the main reasons I chose to follow him at Indiana. While there, I chased his American record in the 200 IM, missing it by a long shot in my freshman year. I knew that Charlie's record in that event was considered his best by both him and Doc Counsilman, our coach at IU. Somehow, I managed to just sneak under it in my sophomore year at Ames, Iowa. When I finished the race on that first day of the NCAA finals, there was Doc on his knees with big tears in his eyes leaning over the side of the pool to congratulate me. It was a hard moment for him, as he loved Charlie so much, and yet still happy for me to break his record. The next day, I received a telegram from Charlie congratulating me on breaking his record. That is the kind of champion Charlie was. I later hired Charlie to be the Head coach of the Cincinnati Marlins. I had no idea at the time that I would be swimming for him. But Charlie recognized that I still had something to prove and managed to tease me back into the water after Medical school classes for some short workouts. In the Spring he entered me in the Nationals in three events without my knowing it and talked me into swimming on some relays. I swam two of my fastest swims ever (and still are) and from there he convinced me to take a leave of absence from Med school and try for my third Olympics. Not only did I make it and medal (bronze in the 100 fly) but had the greatest honor of my athletic career by being named to carry our flag in the Opening Ceremony in Montreal. I did not stay as close to Charlie throughout his life as I should have, since I owed him so much. But I can tell you that his life was filled with ups and downs, successes and failures, just like all of us. Through it all, he remained a caring, loving husband and father and one of the most humble people on the planet. Charlie Hickcox was the epitomy of the Olympic ideals and was a true champion. Gary Hall Sr.

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:52:41 GMT

Thank you so much for your post Frank! Loved reading more about Charlie and of his contributions to swimming...

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

swimshark — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:30:06 GMT

Wow, what a great tribute. So sorry to hear of the too-early passing of a swimmer.

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Former Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:56:15 GMT

Always sad to hear a swimmer died prematurely. I remember about a year ago Richard Quick the coach also died of cancer in his 60's. One would have expected such swimmers to live much longer than the average people.

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Bobinator — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:50:20 GMT

That was a wonderful tribute! You did him proud!

RE: Passing of Charlie Hickox

Robert Strand — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:57:43 GMT

Very nice review of Charlie's career. So with Charlie and Don gone that is two members off the 68 medley realy gold team, correct?