We are honored to announce that on May 6 at 10am (at our boathouse) one of the last shells Stan built for the Olympics will be renamed the Stan Pocock in honor of the U.S. Rowing Hall of Fame coach whose crews won gold in the ’56, ’60 and ’64 Olympics. One of those shells, 1960 gold medalist the Hoh was once part of our fleet.
When Stan passed away in December of 2014, it touched many in our club, who took the 6am ferry with our fleet of wooden Pocock shells to row in his memorial. On that day I understood who the Pococks were and what they meant to the sport, to the area and to those who knew him.
The Stan Pocock, (formerly the Riverside) one of 30 shells built for the 1968 Olympic trials in Long Beach California, is the only wooden shell that will bear his name. After the trials, the shells were never trucked down to Mexico City for the 68 Olympics, thus ending nearly half a century of Olympic dominance by the Pocock dynasty.
Though I never heard any complaints from the competitors who used the boats in the Trials, one thing was certain: the movement away from our boats had begun in earnest. “ Stan Pocock Way Enough p 237
The U.S. would not win another gold medal for 20 years.
Thanks to the generous contributions of Kathleen Pocock‘s granddaughter Cindi Jones and her husband Henry, and to Ed Kirkpatrick who donated the shell, we will all celebrate this happy occasion at our boathouse, surrounded by Cindi, Ed, Lucy Pocock’s granddaugther Heidi Danilchik and family, and George Pocock‘s granddaughter Katie Kusske and family. Stan’s friend and fellow oarsman Guy Harper and his wife Pam will be there too. Sadly, Stan’s widow Suzanne Pocock will be out of town and will be greatly missed!
Jim and Bonnie Buckley will announce the online auction of an autographed copy of Stan’s book Way Enough. Proceeds will benefit the Port Townsend Education Foundation and the Place-based Maritime program that impressed Stan. More details here (when available).
Stay tuned for the full party wrap up!
