RALPH R. WRIGHT, SR.

Born August 29, 1921, Lodi, California

• 1936 - Established his first national record in the 100 yard breaststroke.
• 1937 - At the age of 15, was one of 14 swimmers chosen to "Swim The Golden Gate" at the dedication of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Special Commemorative gold medals were issued to each of the 14 swimmers.
• 1938 - National Championships - Pioneered the Butterfly Stroke using an over-the-water arm recovery and breaststroke kick.
• 1939 - All American Prep Swimmer in breaststroke.
• 1939 - American record breaker in the 100 yard breaststroke.
• 1940 and 1941 - National Junior College Record Holder and Swimming AlI-American, both years at Stockton Jr. College.
• Ranked third in the nation twice while at College of the Pacific.
• While at College of the Pacific, played football for the legendary Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Joined U.S. Marine Corps Officer Training Program while at College of the Pacific.
• 1940 - Held numerous records while attending College of the Pacific, including 100 yard breaststroke, 200 yard breaststroke and 300 I.M. relay.
• Coached the Stockton High School team while in college. There was no money for a coach and the team had to rent pool space. Mr. Wright staged "aquacades" to financethe team. He coached here for three years and won three sectional championships.
• Majored in physical education at the College of the Pacific. During this time he did numerous exhibitions to promote the sport of swimming.
• 1943 - Graduated from College of the Pacific.
• 1943 through 1946 - World War II, United States Marine Corps.
• 1946 - Hawaiian Champion and record holder in the 200 breaststroke and 300 I.M.
• 1946 - Broke the Olympic and World Record in the 200 breaststroke.
• 1946 - Swam on the U.S. National Championship 800 Free Relay Team.
• Member and President of the Hawaii Swimming Club when Coach Sakamoto's team won the National Championship by the largest score ever amassed.
• Beat the Olympic record twice in the breaststroke.
• 1946 - Pursued a Master's Degree in physical education at The University of Hawaii.
• 1947 - Successfully represented the United States in a tour of major Australian Swimming Championships; introduced the "butterfly-breaststroke" to Australia.
• 1947 - Wrote a thesis entitled "A History of the Development of Competitive Swimming in Hawaii up to 1916".
• 1947 - Moved to Louisville, Kentucky.
• 1948 - 1951 Head Coach of the Y.M.C.A. in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Coached Y.M.C.A. team to a "Southern Y Championship", turning out over 3,000 swimmers during his tenure at the Y.M.C.A. Three national records were set by his swimmers.
• 1948 through 1951 - Head Coach of the University of Louisville Swim Team. For the three years he coached at the University of Louisville, it was ranked "Best Collegiate Team in Kentucky".
• 1952 - Moved his family to Miami, Florida for three years.
• 1952 through 1955 - Served as Head Coach at the Ransom School. Coached Ransom School to a top ranking.
• 1952 through 1955 - Performed swimming and diving exhibitions at Miami hotels to promote the sport of swimming.
• Summer of 1953 - Taught swimming at Camp Cloudmount, Alabama.
• Summer of 1954 and 1955 - Head Coach at the Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
• 1956 - Became President and General Manager of the proposed Plantation Swim Club in Louisville, Kentucky - the first club of its kind east of the Mississippi.
• 1957 - Plantation Swim Club opened with a 50 meter outdoor pool and a 30 member swim team.
• 1958 through 1961 - Coached Plantation Swim Club to its first of many to follow Senior Men's State Championship. The team had grown to 125 members.
• 1961 - Swam the 110 yard breaststroke event in an exhibition at Plantation Swim Club and set a new American Record in the event at the age of 39.
• 1961 through 1962 - Served as Secretary/Treasurer of The American Swim Coaches Association.
• 1961 - Published the first monthly newsletter for ASCA - a task he began and did voluntarily for two years.
• 1961 through 1963 - American Swim Coaches Association board member.
• 1963 - Built the first convertible pool on the East Coast.
• 1965 - Three Plantation swimmers represented the United States on the U.S. team which defeated the Canadian All-Star team that year.
• 1965 - Plantation swimmers set five new men's American records.
• 1965 - Plantation Swim Team had grown to over 300 swimmers. The team won championship meets in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and won the Mid-West Regional Championships.
• 1965 - 55 Plantation swimmers were given National Age Group Rankings making it one of the top teams in the country.
• 1966 - Under Coach Wright's leadership, Plantation successfully bid on the 1969 National Championships at a convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• 1966 - Runner up at the Long Distance National Championship.
• 1966 - Fall of this year found Plantation swimmers on the following college teams: Indiana, Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Alabama, Yale, Florida State, Washington University and Villanova.
• 1966 - Plantation had ]13 first place national age group{p rankings.
• 1966 - Plantation Swim Club had 11 qualifiers to swim at A.A. U. Nationals.
• 1966 - There were 13 individual state champions at Plantation.
• November1, 1966 Ralph Wright tragically dies at the age of 45.
• 1966 - Ralph Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund established.
• 1969 - The Ralph Wright Memorial Swim Meets were established in Stockton, California and in Louisville, Kentucky.
• 1969 - Plantation wins Region 6 Senior Women's Championship.
• 1969 - Long Course Outdoor National Swimming and Diving Championships were held at and televised from Plantation Swim Club.
• 1973 - National Outdoor Long Course Swimming and Diving Championships were again held at and televised from Plantation Swim Club.