PRINCETON, N.J. - USRowing is pleased to announce that long-time Detroit Boat Club coach Dick Bell has been named the recipient of the 2012 USRowing John J. Carlin Service Award.
Chosen by the USRowing Board of Directors, the award honors an individual, or individuals, who has made significant and outstanding commitments in support of rowing. Bell will be honored December 1 at an awards reception held in conjunction with the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"It is a distinguished honor to be nominated for the John J. Carlin Service Award," said Bell. "I would like to thank USRowing, the board president, board of directors and my longtime rowing friend, Jim Dietz, for this prestigious honor.
"I was surprised, to say the least, but enthusiastically accept the nomination on behalf of myself, my wife Karen, the Detroit Boat Club, DBC Crew, Friends of Detroit Rowing and all of our crews, past, present and future," Bell said.
"Dick Bell's leadership and passion for rowing has been a keystone for rowing in and around the Midwest for decades. His name has been synonymous with Detroit Boat Club (the oldest rowing club in America) for decades, as a coach, and founding member of the Friends of Detroit Rowing. His commitment to our sport is exactly why he is so deserving of the Carlin Award," said Glenn Merry, USRowing Chief Executive Officer.
Bell began rowing as a teenager, competing for the Detroit Boat Club in Philadelphia, where he became a familiar face on Boathouse Row and at the Fairmount Rowing Association.
"I shared many of the same memories of Boathouse Row as John J. Carlin," said Bell. "The DBC crews competed many times with Fairmount and other clubs from Boathouse Row, so I've always considered Philadelphia my second home."
Bell began coaching at the Detroit Boat Club in 1971 and he continues coaching there to this day. He has coached athletes of every level, from junior to elite international athletes competing at world championships and the Olympics.
John J. Carlin was a Philadelphia oarsman and coach who dedicated over 50 years to the development of the sport. During his lifetime, Carlin served on the United States Olympic and Pan American Committee, was a FISA representative, Commodore of the Schuylkill Navy and coached at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also heavily involved in Philadelphia junior and high school rowing.
USRowing recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions and achievements in the sport in 14 categories.
Seven of the awards will be presented November 14 at the Golden Oars Dinner including the USRowing Medal of Honor, awarded to Stan Pocock; Male Athlete of the Year, awarded to Glenn Ochal; Female Athlete of the Year, awarded to Oksana Masters; Jack Franklin Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded to Kate Godwin; Jack Kelly Award, awarded to Mike Knopp; Anita DeFrantz Award for Advancing Diversity in Rowing, awarded to RowLA; and the Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing, awarded to Oksana Masters and Rob Jones.
Seven additional USRowing Awards will be presented Saturday, December 1 at the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla., including the John J. Carlin Service Award, awarded to Dick Bell; Clayton W. Chapman Award, awarded to Tim Royalty; Joan Zandbergen "Mama Z" Award, awarded to Elaine Roden; Julian Wolf Award, awarded to Lloyd McDonald; Man of the Year Award, awarded to Rob Jones; Ernestine Bayer Award (formerly Woman of the Year); and the Club of the Year Award, awarded to Community Rowing, Inc.
Seven Fan's Choice Awards also will be presented at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner. They include the Junior Rower of the Year, Alia Shafi; Collegiate Rower of the Year, Kristine O'Brien; National Team Rower of the Year, Charlie Cole; Masters Rower of the Year, Paul Green; Junior Coach of the Year, Greg King; Collegiate Coach of the Year, Paul Cooke; and Masters Coach of the Year, Boris Kusturic.
For more information about the Golden Oars Awards Dinner in New York City, visit www.usrowing.org. To purchase a ticket or secure a table, visit http://usrowing.tix.com.