Alan Ford (swimmer)
Alan Robert Ford (born December 7, 1923 in the Panama Canal Zone , † November 3, 2008 in Sarasota , Florida , United States ) was an American swimmer .
Live and act
Alan Ford attended school in the Panama Canal Zone and graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg , Pennsylvania in the United States . He then studied mechanical engineering at Yale University , where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1945 . He then worked for the Carrier Air Conditioning Company in Syracuse , New York .
At Yale University he was part of the Yale Bulldogs swim team trained by Robert JH Kiphuth . On February 13, 1943, he broke out in New Haven , Connecticut with 50.6 s existing since 1927 world record in the 100 yard freestyle by Johnny Weissmuller (51.0 s). On March 18, 1944, he was the first to swim this distance under 50 seconds, followed by Dick Cleveland as the next swimmer in 1952. Ford improved the world record over 100 meters freestyle twice (1944 in 55.9 s, 1948 in 55.4 s) . He has won three National Collegiate Athletic Association titles (50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, and 150 yard back yard ) and two Amateur Athletic Union titles .
In 1944 he was in the documentary short film Blue Winners of Russell Ervin seen on the Yale swim team of Robert JH Kiphuth.
After serving in the United States Navy , he returned to his sporting career. He was trained again by Robert JH Kiphuth and won the silver medal in the 100 meters freestyle in 57.8 s at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London .
As a mechanical engineer, he designed and directed the construction of oil refineries , processing plants, and storage facilities in the United States and abroad. He ended his professional career as vice president of Dow Chemical's International Terminal in Bay City , Michigan .
Alan Ford was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) in 1966. In 2007 he handed over his scrapbook to the ISHOF's Henning Library.
Alan Ford had been married to Beverly Joy Ford since 1945. He had a daughter and three sons. In 2008 he died after suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
Web links
- Alan Ford in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
- Record Breakers… ISHOF Speaks With Alan Ford on swimmingworldmagazine.com
- Legendary Yale swimmer Alan Ford '45 Passes Away on the Yale Bulldogs website
- Bruce Weber: Alan Ford, Top Freestyler in 1940s, Is Dead at 84. In: New York Times . November 16, 2008
- Obituary on the International Swimming Hall of Fame website
- Alan Ford on the Mercersburg Academy website
Individual evidence
- ↑ Blue Winners on ishof.org
- ↑ 1965–2006 Honorees By Country - International Swimming Hall of Fame on ishof.org
- ↑ Record Breakers… ISHOF Speaks With Alan Ford on swimmingworldmagazine.com
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ford, Alan |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ford, Alan Robert (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American swimmer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 7, 1923 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Panama Canal Zone |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 3, 2008 |
| Place of death | Sarasota , Florida |