The Birth of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame

1970 - Harold Anderson, Safety Director of the Rhode Island American Red Cross and Ellis Mayers, swim coach at Seekonk High School attend the Pennsylvania State Annual Aquatic Conference and Aquatic Hall of Fame induction. Idea is set in motion to begin an Aquatic Hall of Fame in Rhode Island. Harold and Ellis return to Rhode Island and get together to formulate the idea of a Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame.

1980 - During the mid to late 1970’s, informal discussions lead to information gathering. Letters were written to the Pennsylvania State Aquatic Hall of Fame and the International Hall of Fame in Florida. Harold Anderson takes the background information that he and Ellis have formulated and takes the initiative to gather leaders in Rhode Island community for discussions about forming the Hall of Fame. A committee was appointed consisting of 11 members: Ed Reed, Carolyn Chadsey, Michael Westcott, Paul Rossi, Everett Armour, James Phelan, Clara Lamore Walker, Dick Vincent, Edward Golden, Ellis Mayers, and Harold Anderson.

January 1981 - Jim Edwards helps create the By-laws for the Hall of Fame.
February 1981 - First meeting of the Committee at the American Red Cross. Goals of the meeting to organize the corporation; adopt the by-laws; elect the board of directors; adopt a form of the corporate seal; and appoint a depository for the funds of the corporation.
March 1981 - Much correspondence between the committee members. Researh takes place to choose the first inductees into the Hall.
March 1981 - Clara Lamore Walker donates a wall plaque in memory of her father for the names of the honorees. 
June 1981 - The Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame is incorporated.
Spring 1981 - Edward Reed, Aquatics Director at Brown University has been instrumental in finding a home for the Hall of Fame. Brown University agrees to become the home and the actual ‘Hall’ is dedicated in the upper lobby of the Smith Swimming Center at Brown University.
June 5, 1981 - The First Annual Banquet is held at the Sharpe Refectory at Brown University. Over 300 people attend to celebrate the Hall and the first of the inductees into the Hall of Fame: Doris Brennan Weir, John Higgins, Ray Lamore, Bud Latham, Clara Lamore Walker, Joseph Watmough, and Roy Watmough.
June, 1981 - Harold Anderson elected as the Hall’s first president.


A Conversation with Harold Anderson.....

We sat down with Harold in April as he reflected on the birth of the Hall of Fame. Harold recalled that the idea for the Hall resulted from he and Ellis Mayers visit to the Aquatics Conference at Penn State University in 1970. As part of the Conference, the Pennsylvania Aquatic Hall of Fame held it’s Annual Induction Ceremony. Ellis and Harold thought that a “Hall” for Rhode Island would be a great idea, and began the process of
gathering information and discussing the concept with leaders in Aquatics over the next several years. After much discussion and preparation, the Hall was incorporated in 1981.

Harold explained about how the name ‘Aquatic’ Hall of Fame came about. “There are many people in Rhode Island who have accomplishments in Aquatics, not only competitive swimming. Water safety instruction, teaching, officiating are other areas of Aquatics that also needed to be recognized. “ Commenting on his own swimming ability, “I was a lousy swimmer myself, but I wanted to find a way to be involved in aquatic life!”
The founders of the Hall worked hard to develop a working set of by-laws and criteria for induction which remain largely unchanged to this day. Harold explains. “The Hall was started to recognize those who have made a contribution to Aquatic life. Induction into the Hall includes receiving 50% of the vote of the Board of Directors and being a Rhode Island resident at one time. If not inducted the first time one is nominated, the
nomination will be considered a total three times. When a candidate is nominated the RIAHOF Board must receive all the pertinent articles and other sorts of information about their days involved in aquatic life. The RIAHOF Board members read through all of the information supplied by each candidate and vote up to 7 new inductees for that year. The application must be in by December and the voting takes place in January.”
The first banquet was held in June 1981 at the Sharpe Refectory, Brown University. Harold recalls the turnout of almost 300 people to the first banquet. Similar to a reunion, people who haven’t seen each other in years gather to share what they all cherish and as a common bond. Harold emphasized the dedication of the people who have helped to get this hall incorporated such as Everett Armour who has spent 18 years on the board.

Special traditions continue to be incorporated into the ceremony such as the Candleship that is lit each year for each of the inductees, the bouquet given to the wives and the pin that each inductee receives as the initiation into the hall.

Many people refer to the RIAHOF as Harold’s ‘baby’. Harold sees it as, “A mecca of people sharing an outstanding competitive history who should be recognized for the unique group that they represent. The Hall is maintained by hard work for a group of dedicated individuals that stemmed from a strong foundation.” At the end of the interview, it is evident that Harold is proud of the Hall and all those who have helped bring it about.

He concludes, “It’s like a dream, it’s history and it’s great because it’s there”.

Harold Anderson is the former Safety Services Director for the American Red Cross in Rhode Island. He is a long time Swimming Instructor, Swimming Official, and Aquatics Booster in Rhode Island. The original President of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame, Harold is still active as an swimming official, and now spends most of his time spoiling his grandchildren.