Forty Years of USMS

[Jayhawk]

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 [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be4BeIzqP7Q"]We Are U.S. Masters Swimming - Promotional Video - YouTube[/nomedia] promotional video.

[TRYM_Swimmer]

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.

[Allen Stark]

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.

[orca1946]

I'm at 27 years & counting. Congrats to all that have gone before me 7 are still swimming!

[Jayhawk]

Here's a photo from the event (click on it for a larger picture).

Back row, left to right: Rob Butcher, John Spannuth, Meegan Wilson, Ed Tsuzuki, Bob Beach

Front row: June Krauser, Nadine Day

[debaru]

It's always cool to see swimming photos from the 70's! I think the swimsuit manufacturer's should bring back some of those awesome fabric prints. Anything retro is always fun.

I own a vintage 1972 "Stars & Stripes" suit that I would wear if it fit -- even with that silly "modesty" panel.

Here's to the next 40 years of USMS. I hope I live long enough to experience the 80th anniversary hoopla (I'll be 98!).

[ElaineK]

It's always cool to see swimming photos from the 70's! I think the swimsuit manufacturer's should bring back some of those awesome fabric prints. Anything retro is always fun.

I own a vintage 1972 "Stars & Stripes" suit that I would wear if it fit -- even with that silly "modesty" panel.

Here's to the next 40 years of USMS. I hope I live long enough to experience the 80th anniversary hoopla (I'll be 98!).

I'll toast to that!

[Michael Heather]

To put names on a couple more people in the photos - On page 11 Reg Richardson is standing on the block in lane 8. He was one of the early Treasurers for USMS.

Page 24 - Anne Adams is the other woman in the photo besides June. Anne was an Olympic trials swimmer in 1948 and held many national records in the 70's and 80's.

[Jayhawk]

Mike, maybe you can confirm these?

Page 19 (photo from Bloomington, IN, in front of a chain link fence): at the far right is Ted Haartz, and next to Ted is Mike Laux

[TRYM_Swimmer]

Mike, maybe you can confirm these?

Page 19 (photo from Bloomington, IN, in front of a chain link fence): at the far right is Ted Haartz, and next to Ted is Mike Laux

I can confirm Ted Haartz in that photo.

[Michael Heather]

Yeah, Ted is on the end, but I am not sure about Mike. I haven't seen him in so long, I drew a moustache on my monitor to see if it looked like him.

[Jayhawk]

...I am not sure about Mike. I haven't seen him in so long, I drew a moustache on my monitor to see if it looked like him.