The Norman Transcript

July 20, 2007

Reunion goes swimingly for old friends

By Meghan McCormick

Transcript Staff Writer

Fifty years ago, Rick Rowland was finishing his senior year at the University of Oklahoma when he was asked to coach Norman High School’s first swim team.

Rowland didn’t hesitate accepting the offer.

“I knew I wasn’t nervous because I wanted to be a swim coach,” he said.

Thursday, Rowland, 73, and members of the NHS 1957 swim team were honored at a reception at the Norman Performing Arts Studio. The reception was sponsored by the Pisces Project.

Butch Simpson and Ben Bealor both graduated in 1957 and competed on the swim team.

“It’s great to see everybody,” Simpson said. “We get to go over old times and catch up what we’ve been doing these years.”

The former student hadn’t seen his swim coach in 50 years. Simpson was grateful for having the chance to learn under Rowland.

“We went from guys who hung out at the swimming pool to competitive swimming,” he said.

Bealor agreed that Rowland was an asset to Norman High School’s competitive swim program.

“I think we were fortunate to have Rick,” he said. “It was a very good experience.”

During Thursday’s event, Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said a few words before Rowland spoke to the crowd.

“A great institution is built on great people and a great foundation,” he said.

Rowland was humbled by the recognition he received from the public.

“I want to thank these guys that came back,” he said.

Rowland told people about an incident that steered him toward swim instruction. Several decades ago, his young niece drowned in a creek.

“I became very dedicated to water safety,” he explained.

Rowland spent his early years in Erick. When he was 4 years old, Rowland, his parents and five siblings moved to California.

He grew up on the West Coast, and enrolled in Pepperdine University. Rowland later transferred to Cal State Fullerton during his sophomore year, but decided to finish his schooling somewhere else.

“When I got a chance to come to OU on a full-ride scholarship, I wanted to get back to my roots,” he said.

His tuition was paid for thanks to a swim scholarship.

At Norman High School, Rowland coached 23 high school boys who excelled as swimmers and divers. Practice sessions were held three nights a week at a pool on the OU campus.

Rowland believes swim lessons not only teach safety but give children self-esteem.

“You have to see a child who does not know how to swim pass a swimming test,” he said. “It’s an absolute joy.”

In 1957, Rowland graduated with a double major in education and speech. After graduation, Rowland returned to California. He taught and coached swimming at Garden Grove High School and Santa Ana College.

In 1965, he moved on and coached at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Rowland was the first person to be given tenure in the physical activities department.

Ten years later, the swim coach left Santa Barbara and returned to Pepperdine University to lead the men’s water polo and swim teams. He also served as an associate professor of speech communication and as an adjunct professor of religion in campus ministry.

Rowland said in 1990, he earned a doctorate in ministry from the California Graduate School of Theology.

He retired from Pepperdine in 2005, but his coaching career did not end. Rowland now assists his son, Rick Rowland, the head swim and water polo coach at California Baptist University in Riverside.

Since retiring, he’s moved to Corona, Calif., to be closer to his four children and eight grandchildren. All have been competitive swimmers.

Rowland may live in the golden state, but he declares himself a true sooner fan.

He said Thursday’s reunion gave him a chance to talk with people he hadn’t spoken to in five decades.

“It was going back 50 years in some ways,” he said.