While we are still mourning the death of President Ford, it seems the right time to let you all know what he was (and is) to our present and past history at Camps Ak-O-Mak and Chikopi.
This picture was taken a few years ago when President Ford came to the Swimming Hall of Fame. Camp’s own Buck Dawson, Swimming Hall of Fame founder and Executive Director for the first 21 years, was host to President Ford during Ford’s visit - the biggest single day in the history of the Hall of Fame. Everybody in Fort Lauderdale, swimmers past and present, or those just wanting to see the President, crowded into the Hall of Fame as Ford toured and asked questions as he recognized the personalities honored there.
When Ford saw the Matt Mann exhibit his eyes lit up. Matt, our camps founder, was Ford’s swimming instructor at the University of Michigan when Ford was a student in the 1930’s and played on Michigan’s National Championship football team.
Ford’s Michigan football coach was Wally Weber who spent approximately 45 summers at Chikopi. Ford reminisced on the memories of Matt Mann.
The President asked Buck and RoseMary if “Matt’s camps were continuing to operate in Canada”, to which RoseMary answered a definite “yes”. On the occasion when Matt corrected Ford’s stroke, little did Matt know at the time that he was teaching a future world leader.
Ford became a keen swimmer for the exercise and heart benefits, especially as his political life grew.
As Vice President, he swam almost everyday but when he moved into the White House no pool existed on the grounds. Buck and the Swimming Hall of Fame donated the first $1000.00 on a campaign to raise private funds to construct a White House pool. Once completed, Ford swam virtually everyday.
Local Florida T.V. stations interviewed Bob Duenkel and Buck Dawson upon Ford’s death. The CBS4 interview can be seen at the following URL Address:
