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2nd Annual Keo Nakama Invit. - 1947.....A word from Ed. T. Kennedy Swimming Coach, Columbia University, New York While at the National A.A.U. Championships at Tyler, Texas, I was asked by Coach Sakamoto of the Hawaii Swimming Club to write a note on swimming for the program on Keo Nakama Day in Honolulu. I am indeed very happy to have this honor and privilege to honor this great champion whom we in the States honor and respect, but also to say some thing about this great world's swimming center. As a college swimming coach for over thirty-five years, during which time I had seen many, many swimming races and swimmers, I am happy to say that Honolulu has played a great part in this grand sport. It was two of perhaps your greatest swimmers, the famous Duke Kahanamoku and the equally great Stubby Krueger who helped so much to keep the U.S. supreme in Olympic competition. I do not need to mention their feats because they are known throughout the world. With such former stars as Crabbe, Strong, Kalili brothers, together with the younger group such as Nakama, Smith Balmores, Oda, Kang and many others, the sport is being well supervised and organized and seems certain of upholding the traditions of years past. I cannot pass this imposing list without commenting on the part that your islands have played in intercollegiate swimming in the States. It was due to the Hawaiian influence that Yale gained supremacy and it has been because of this start that intercollegiate swimming gained headway in the U.S. Mr. Dudley Prat and Mr. Loren Thurston, two of your great citizens of the islands, I understand that Thurston Jr. is headed for New Haven this year. It seems only fitting to the writer that this great meet, that is being held in late August, shall take place between these two great swimming clubs the University of Michigan and the Hawaii Swimming Club. Both of these institutions are headed by coaches, by men famous for developing stars over these many years. Matt Mann needs no introduction but his contribution to the sport has been of tremendous value. He is ever willing to help adults or youngsters, he is a keen student of the sport and he is a tireless worker. He is recognized as an authority on swimming in the U.S. Coach Sakamoto has been and still is a technician, a detailist and a keen observer of all that is good in swimming. He has developed many stars and his latest crop is being heard from wherever they compete. I know of no better idea, either for the sport nor the people who will witness the event, than this idea of getting these two great coaches, with their great swimming squads, together for such a gala day and when it is combined to honor a real champion, that is a perfect day and I wish to congratulate the person who conceived this plan. It seems very fitting that this occasion should be dedicated to the great all around champion, Keo Nakama. As an official and an observer of his feats during his competition throughout the years, I am most happy to have this opportunity of congratulating him and saying these few words. He is fully deserving of this honor which his people are bestowing upon him. With my heartiest congratulations to Keo, I conclude by thanking Coach Sakamoto for allowing me this opportunity to contribute to this gala event. |