Midwestern Swimming Hall of Fame

Betty Jakob dedicated a very large part of her life helping Nebraska children develop character through the sport of competitive swimming. As a pioneer woman coach she worked with all organizations in the state of Nebraska - AAU, USS, USA Swimming, YMCA, and the NSAA - to further the goals of competitive swimming. Betty began coaching with the Grand Island Swim Association when there were few women coaches in the United States. She began at the Grand Island YMCA in 1967 and coached there until 1987. She developed several AAU National qualifiers, two USS National qualifiers, over a dozen YMCA National qualifiers, and three Nebraska State Champions in women's swimming who set five Nebraska State High School records. Two were inaugural Nebraska State champions in 1973. When Betty retired fro the YMCA she continued to be involved with coach High School for another 13 years. Betty is a true treasure in our competitive swimming world. She never sought the limelight, but tirelessly worked to light the passion for swimming in thousands of Nebraska young people throughout her long coaching career.

Bonnie Berndt is a great example of what parental involvement can become. Bonnie's children began swimming when they were living in New Hampshire and she became involved with the sport then. When they moved to Mississippi she became involved there as an official. When a move took her family to Nebraska she again became involved with the local LSC even though her children had been out of swimming for some time. Bonnie served as Officials Chair and referee for MW from 1983 until 2000. She gave many tireless hours to MW by giving clinics, staffing and working championship meets, and faithfully attending the USAS Conventions for many years. Bonnie was a wonderful example of a swim parent who knew the value of swimming for her children and spent much time giving back to a sport that gave so much to her family. Yet Bonnie would tell you that she received much more than she gave and would encourage parents to get involved in the sport as a volunteer and an official.

Renee Magee was the first Midwestern swimmer to male a U.S. Olympic Swimming team. She was a member of the 1976 team and swam the 100 m backstroke in Montreal, Canada. Renee began her career as a seven year old with the Omaha Westside Swim Club under Cal Bentz. In 1972 she swam for Bellevue Swim Club in Jack Jackson. In 1975 her father was transferred to Houston, and but Renee stayed in Omaha and lived with the Jacksons. Homesickness and missing her family began to effect her performance and the decision was made by athlete, coach, and parents for her to move to Texas with her family. She joined Dad's Club and swam with Skip Kenny, now the men's coach at Stanford University. Renee placed 3rd at the Olympic Trials in 1976. She was World Ranked in the 200 m IM in 1974, a top 16 qualifier from 1972 thru 1976 and a Midwestern record holder. She was also a member of the US National Team that competed in Australia. At the 1976 Olympic Games she missed qualifying for the semifinals by .01. She competed for North Carolina Sate for one year and retired. She returned to school and earned a Law degree. Today she lives in Houston, is married and has a son. She is an assistant District Attorney in Houston. Her mother refers to her as the Martha Clark of Houston. Renee encourages athletes to work hard and enjoy the sport of swimming. She remembers her swimming career as some of the best times of her life.

Dotty was the quintessential swim mom. She began her involvement with swimming when her daughter began swimming at the age of six. This got Dotty involved in working the scoring table at meets. She handled entries, seeding, and preparing the heat sheets and programs. She ran the scoring table at Nationals in 1966 and 1968 in Lincoln at Woods Pool. Along with Bill Boyer she developed the ballot system which is still used today. She also did all the entries, seeding and programs for the State and Metro meets from 1967 to 1972. The amazing thing was that it was all done by hand - no computers. It was usually an 18 hour day to prepare for a meet and then run the meet all weekend. Dotty was a board member of Midwestern Swimming and the Omaha Westside Swim Club. Her love for watching her daughter compete and her love for the sport made her one of the early dedicated volunteers in the development of Midwestern Swimming. In her later years she was able to help with meet entries for a club and help set up meets with the computer, a challenge which she accepted gingerly. Dotty passed away on Christmas Day in 2001 and Midwestern has missed her sorely.

Dr. Hammer's involvement with Midwestern goes back to the 1970s and the days of the AAU. When USA Swimming was formed, Doc served as a representative from Midwestern to the 1st ever USA Swimming Convention. He served as Central Zone director from 1978-1979 and also on the USA Swimming Board of Directors. He was instrumental in bringing the first ever Central Zone meet to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1980. Doc Hammer served as an official not only at the local level but also at the zone and national level. He has served as Midwestern General Chair on numerous occasions. Midwestern Swimming honored Dr. Hammer with a surprise USA Swimming Life Membership at the USAS Convention in Los Angeles in 1994. Doc Hammer has been a visionary in that the establishment of the Cornhusker State Games which includes a swim meet is due in great part to his efforts. Doc Hammer still gives generously of his time and can occasionally be found on a swimming deck as an official. Doc is a very special friend to all in swimming - at the club level, at the LSC level, at the zone level, at the national level and to the whole of our sport.

Purpose

Coaches must have been a member of USA Swimming and coached at the club level either as a head coach or assistant coach, must have coached at least five years in Midwestern, and may not be only a high school or college coach.

Officials must have been a member of USA Swimming, registered with Midwestern Swimming and active in Midwestern, Zone, Sectional and National Meets, and must have been active in officiating for at least five years.

Volunteers must have worked over a period of five years and not be a person who fits any of the above criteria for athlete, coach, or official.

Please contact Mary Losee with your nominees for the MW Hall of Fame before July 1, 2008, in order for them to be honored in the fall of 2008.