Congratulations to those selected to the list of 25 Most Influential People in the History of USA Swimming. The panel of voters also selected eight pioneers to be honored during this 25th year of celebration for USA Swimming. Almost 100 names were submitted for consideration. Those honored were chosen for their long-time dedication to the organization of swimming in the United States, with contributions often dating back to the years before the formation of USA Swimming in 1978. Current staff members were not eligible for votes. 

CONTEMPORARY 

Sandy Baldwin
Sandy Baldwin started as a swim parent and become an official in Arizona under AAU Swimming. She ran the 1976 AAU convention held in Phoenix. Baldwin became treasurer of United States Swimming and was instrumental in helping the organization separate from the AAU financially healthy. She went on to be elected as USS President and later served as treasurer then president of the United States Olympic Committee. 

Arvydas Barzdukas
Arvydas Barzdukas was a swim parent in Potomac Valley and went on to be elected to the United States Swimming Board of Directors. He was instrumental in forming the rules for USS-sanctioned competitions. Barzdukas served on numerous committees including Legislation, Publications (chair), Age Group Rules (chair), Rules, Sunset (chair) and was on the Board of Directors. 

John Bogert
John Bogert was the first treasurer for United States Swimming. He also served as chair of the USOC Swimming Committee, President of the Association of the Swimming Union of the Americas, Chairman of the Olympic and International Relations Committee and was a Representative at the FINA Congress. 

George Breen
After winning bronze in the 1500m free at both the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, George Breen stayed heavily involved in the sport of swimming. He was on the USS Board of Directors, chaired the Olympic and International Relations Committee and was a team manager at the Olympic and Pan American Games level. Breen is also a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Peter Carney
Peter Carney was longtime chair of the Rules and Regulations committee, charged with the difficult task of distributing information on rule change votes each year. He also championed the Coaches' Achievement Awards, which paid out $50,000 a year to coaches for their athletes' performances at the Nationals in 1993 and 1994. Carney served on USA Swimming's Board of Directors as Southern Zone Director and Program Development Vice President.

Peter Daland
Peter Daland coached swimming for more than 30 years, including serving as head coach of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Women's Swim Team and the 1972 U.S. Olympic Men's Swim Team. He has served on numerous USS committees, including many years on the Olympic and International Relations Committee. Daland is the USA representative to FISU and has served as its director. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Ray Essick
Ray Essick was the first executive director of the United States Swimming and was instrumental in the organization's formation, after many years of activity in the AmateurAthletic Union. He served as USS' executive director until retiring in 1997, helping to make USS the flagship NGB in the United States Olympic movement. 

Barney Favaro 
Barney Favaro was the main author of the original United States Swimming regulations, after chairing the AAU Law and Legislation Committee. Those regulations were also used by other sports who were in the process of incorporating. Favaro also acted as legal counsel for USS and supervised the Board of Review process. He is still very active in the USADA and FINA drug control programs. 

Don Gambril 
Don Gambril was on five U.S. Olympic coaching staffs and was the head coach of the highly successful 1984 team. He also served in a volunteer capacity, including stints as president of the American Swim Coaches Association and chairman of the USS Technical Planning Committee. He was a member of the Olympic International Relations Committee for more than 20 years. Gambrill is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

George Haines 
George Haines coached U.S. teams at four Olympic Games, including serving as head coach of the women's team in 1960 and the men's team in 1968. He established a tradition of excellence still maintained at the Santa Clara Swim Club today. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Bob Helmick
Bob Helmick served as the AAU President during the transition of swimming control to United States Swimming. He is also a former USOC President and FINA President. Helmick was also chairman of U.S. Water Polo from 1969-72 and Team Manager at the 1972 Olympic Games. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. 

Bill Lippman
Bill Lippman was the first President of U.S. Swimming. He fought for the sport's independence while it was still under the AAU umbrella. Lippman was also the AAU and USS Rules Chairman, the Treasurer of the FINA Technical Swimming Committee and for U.S. Aquatic Sports. He served as the manager of the 1968 U.S. Olympic Swim Team. Lippman is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Pete Malone
Pete Malone is the head coach and general manager of the Kansas City Blazers. He has served the sport in numerous capacities from zone director to the Board of Directors. He's served on several international coaching staffs. In 2001, he was given the USA Swimming Award presented for outstanding contributions to the organization and to the sport. 

Bill Maxson 
Bill Maxson was elected as the fifth president of United States Swimming in 1990, after serving as General Chairman of Ozark Swimming and coaching at Southeast Missouri State University. Prior to being elected president, he was the National Administrative Vice President for USS and had previously chaired the USS Finance Committee. 

Dale Neuburger 
Dale Neuburger served two terms as USS President, after many years of serving the organization and the sport in various capacities, including Central Zone Director, chairman of Niagara Swimming and a member of the Executive Committee for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. Neuburger currently serves as a FINA Vice President and president of United States Aquatic Sports. 

Jerry Olson 
Jerry Olson started as a swimming parent and eventually became the Meet Director for many Nationals meets held in Austin. He served as Secretary and then President of the Association of the Swimming Union of the Americas. Olson was also a USS Vice President, chaired the Olympic and International Relations Committee and was a representative at several FINA Congresses. 

Dennis Pursley 
Dennis Pursley was the first National Team Director for USA Swimming. In the three Olympics during Pursley's tenure, the U.S. swim team amassed 38 gold medals and 86 medals overall, winning both the overall and gold medal count at all three Games (1992, 1996 and 2000). He was also on the 1980 U.S. Olympic coaching staff. In 2000, Pursley was the recipient of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Chair's Coaching Award. 

Allen Richardson 
Allen Richardson is considered the "father" of USS Sports Medicine and Science programs. He also served as Chair of the FINA medical committee. Richardson was the chair of the FINA medical commission when it decided to test Chinese athletes immediately before the 1994 Asian Games (11 positive tests results). He received the USA Swimming Award in 1996. 

Mark Schubert 
Mark Schubert has been on six U.S. Olympic coaching staffs, including serving as head coach of the women's team in 1992 and the men's team in 2000. He will make his seventh Olympic appearance in 2004 as the women's head coach. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Barbara Shycoff 
Barbara Shycoff served as the Athlete's Vice President from 1989-92. During that time, USA Swimming truly kicked off its athletes' assistance program. She continually championed athletes' issues and helped implement the first athlete assistance programs.

Penny Taylor
From competing at the Olympic level to serving on numerous committees, Penny Taylor has been involved in the sport for most of her life. She has served as team manager on international trips, including at the 1984 Olympic Games. Taylor has also headed the United States Aquatic Sports delegation at several World Championships. She's also been on the USS Board of Directors. 

Ken Treadway
As well as coaching for many years and serving as the U.S. Olympic Swim Team Manager three times, Ken Treadway was heavily involved in the governance of the sport. He was Chairman of the National Women's Swimming Committee and the National Men's Swimming Committee. His most long-last contribution was bringing in Phillips 66 as a major sponsor of USA Swimming in 1981, a partnership still in place today. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Ross Wales
Ross Wales earned a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics and then went on to assist in the governance of the sport. He provided for incorporation of United States Swimming and United States Aquatic Sport in Ohio prior to the Olympic Sports Act. Wales has served in many high level capacities, including USS President, USAS President and FINA Vice President to name a few. Wales will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2004. 

Jim Wood 
Jim Wood is the founder and Head Coach of the Berkeley Aquatic Club. The recipient of the 2003 USA Swimming Award, Wood is currently Chair of the Olympic and International Operations Committee. He is also serving as the policy advisor to the National Team Interim Director. 

Carol Zaleski 
Carol Zaleski started out as a swim parent, beginning her volunteer activities in the Allegheny Mountain LSC. She served four terms as USS President. Zaleski was also a USS Vice President and is currently Chair of the FINA Technical Swimming Committee. She was referee at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, and will also serve that role in 2004. 
 
 

PIONEER

Sherm Chavoor 
Sherm Chavoor coached for more than 30 years, including two stints as the U.S. Olympic Women's Coach in 1968 and 1972. His swimmers produced 84 world records and 132 American records. Chavoor is credited with innovations in interval/distance training that are still utilized by coaches today. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee and the National Swimming Rules Committee under the AAU. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Richard Close 
Richard Close was the first official's chairman for United States Swimming, creating a widely-used manuscript on officiating. He helped guide the formation of the official's certification program. 

Doc Counsilman 
Dr. James "Doc" Counsilman was the Olympic Coach in both 1964 and 1976. He authored one of the most respected swimming books in history, The Science of Swimming. Many of the techniques he developed are still used in training swimmers today. Counsilman was also president of the American Swim Coaches Association and founder and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Hal Henning 
Hal Henning served as Secretary and President of FINA and of ASUA. He was also Chairman of the U.S. Olympic and National AAU Swimming and President of the Central AAU. Henning was the Organizer and Aquatics Director of the 1959 Pan American Games, and was the manager of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Swim Team. He also refereed at the Olympic, World Championships and Pan American Games level. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Jack Kelly 
Jack Kelly competed at the Olympic level in rowing, before becoming involved on the administrative side of aquatic sports. He became active in Philadelphia politics and served as a spokesman for amateur sports. Kelly served as president of the Amateur Athletic Union and then as president of the USOC. Tragically, he died of a heart attack at age 57 after only 22 days as USOC president. 

Adolph Kiefer 
Adolph Kiefer has been involved in swimming since winning gold in the 100m backstroke at the 1936 Olympic Games. At one time, he held world records in every backstroke event. While serving his country in World War II, he was charged with "teaching the Navy to swim." Kiefer was also an Advisor to the President's Council on Physical Fitness. At the age of 85, Kiefer stills works everyday at his business after completing a morning swim. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Bob Kiphuth 
Bob Kiputh was the men's U.S. Olympic Coach at the 1932, 1936 and 1948 Games. He introduced dry land exercises to swim training and was one of the first to author a swimming technique book. Kiphuth also served as the National AAU Treasurer and the AAU Youth Fitness Director. He was a legendary coach at Yale University where his men's team dominated collegiate competition at the time. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Al Schoenfeld 
Al Schoenfeld was Editor and Publisher of "Swimming World" and "Junior Swimmer" and Publisher of "Swimming Technique." He also compiled and distributed bibliographies and record books for swimming and water polo. Schoenfeld was part of the U.S. Olympic Committee and was Secretary of the FINA Technical Swim Committee. Schoenfeld was also a Contributor to Encyclopedia Britannica from 1960-1985. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.