25 Years As Swim Coach

KARL MICHAEL '29 couldn't understand it. Here it was, one hour before the swimming meet with Pennsylvania, and the programs were not at the pool. He called the publicity office, the printer, and assistant coach Ron Keenhold. He got reassurances but no programs.

This, of course, was all part of the elaborate precautions taken to keep Karl Michael in the dark about Karl Michael Day. The occasion was the final swimming meet of Michael's 25th coaching year at his alma mater and the secret tribute had been building up for three months.

There were programs all right. But instead of the usual small, black and white jobs, these were large and beautifully printed in four colors with a cover photo of Mike and his boys in the handsome new pool.

The program also listed the 230 former Dartmouth swimmers and friends of Dartmouth swimming who had made possible this special tribute.

For most of his 25 years at Dartmouth Mike has been voicing one theme to his graduating seniors at break-up banquets. While expressing thanks for the usual squad gift to its coach, Mike had said, "I appreciate this ... but I'd appreciate it more if you'd do something for swimming at Dartmouth. I think you fellows have gained a lot from this experience here and I hope you give back to swimming a little of what swimming has given you."

So the Old Green swimmers did just that. Headed by co-chairman John Creamer Jr. '52 of Hartsdale, N. Y., and Charles McAllister '31 of Scarsdale, N. Y., the group raised a fund of $10,000 to "put the finishing touches" on the new pool in Mike's honor.

Word of the presentation ceremony, to be held at the conclusion of the diving competition during the Penn meet, was spread quietly. A full house was in attendance although the weak Quaker squad did not figure to offer much opposition to Dartmouth (and was, in fact, swamped by a 63-31 score).

Here are the assets to be added to the Dartmouth swimming program through the gratitude of his former "boys" for the overwhelmed Michael:

An automatic judging and timing system which gives the order of finish and time (accurate to 1/100 of a second) for each individual in a race without any human judgment or error involved; An electric scoreboard (already installed) which lists team scores and running time for each race;

A permanent trophy in the form of a two-foot sculpture and annual award in memory of the late All-America swimmer John Glover '55;

Pool-side plaques listing all-time Dartmouth swimming records;

A sauna bath to be installed under the grandstand of the pool.

Mike himself received a fine watch, scroll, and other gifts. One which caught even the committee by surprise was provided by the visiting Penn swimming team which, learning about the ceremony upon arrival in Hanover, hustled down to Main Street and acquired an engraved pewter mug for the occasion.

Co-chairmen of the committee to honor swimming coach Karl Michael '29 (c) onoccasion of his 25th year at Dartmouth were Charles McAllister '31 (I) and JohnCreamer 52. The committee raised $10,000 from former Big Green swimmers toprovide, in Karl's honor, an electronic judging and timing system, an electric scoreboard,and a sauna bath for the College's new Olympic-sized pool in Alumni Gym.

Coach Michael with Captain Tom Hoober '66, elected to lead the Big Green swimmersagain next season, and W. Curtis Glover '18, whose son John '55, a three-time All-American swimmer, will be memorialized with an annual swimming award.