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Swimming eNews - Spring 2006 |
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50 Years of Swimming Celebration A few L.U.S.T. Reunion Attendees
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On Saturday, February 4th the Lawrence Swimming and Diving program celebrated “50 Years of Swimming” Reunion. The title is sort of a misnomer as the sport of swimming as an intercollegiate offering at LU goes back to the late 1930’s. The significance of this event was to celebrate the beginning of an era. Fifty years ago, in 1956, Roy “Gene” Davis was hired to take over the Lawrence Swimming and remained in that position until his retirement in 1991. Since then the program has been in the hands of Coach Kurt Kirner. All known alumni of the swimming program over the past half century have swum for either Coach Davis or Kirner. Both coaches were present at the event and enjoyed visits from past alums. The event included a presentation of Lawrence Swimming today, an alumni/current team swim meet and a banquet. The banquet featured a welcome from new Lawrence Athletic Director, Bob Beeman and a special showing of “50 Years of Swimming” video (25 minutes) highlighting photos from 1956 to the present. Additionally, many visitors were able to take in the undefeated men’s basketball team and league leading women’s basketball teams which were both at home for contests on Friday and Saturday. Sadly Coach Gene Davis, who is an inaugural member of the Lawrence University Athletic Department Hall of Fame, passed away on Good Friday, April 21 at the age of 77 years. Any one wishing to purchase a copy of the video and the special commemorative booklet may do so by contacting Coach Kirner. |
Coach Davis giving last minute instructions to his "young" competitors (Tim Kelly '74 and David Hines '76) during the Alumni Meet |
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Kristi Jahn '92 (center) was one of the lucky ones who bridged the gap and swam for both coaches! Dr. Jahn is now a practicing physican in Utah. View Video Clips of 50 Years DVD |
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