April 3, 2009

SAN ANTONIO (SMU) - Former SMU All-America swimmer Jerry Heidenreich, former men's swimming coach George McMillion and former women's coach Richard Quick have been chosen for induction into the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. The three Mustangs, and 11 others, make up the 2009 induction class, which will be honored Saturday, April 4.

At SMU, Heidenreich was an All-American four consecutive years. He won 18 individual Southwest Conference titles, one NCAA title and set the world record in the 200 freestyle. He won four medals - two gold (in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and in the 4x100 medley relay), one silver (in the 100 freestyle) and one bronze (in the 100 butterfly) - at the 1972 Games in Munich.

McMillion became the head of the SMU swimming program after serving 14 years as assistant to the legendary A. R. "Red" Barr. The SMU men's swimming and diving team finished ranked among the nation's top 20 teams in each of McMillion's 16 seasons as head coach of the Mustangs. His squads ranked among the NCAA top 10 a total of 14 times (including a runner-up finish in 1983 - SMU's highest NCAA finish ever), won eight Southwest Conference championships and compiled a 160-39 overall dual meet won-lost record, including one undefeated season (16-0) in 1979. McMillion produced 78 NCAA All-America swimmers and divers and has sent many swimmers into international competition. SMU swimming Olympic medalists included Heidenreich, Steve Lundquist, Ricardo Prado, Ron Mills and Rich Saeger.

As a competitor for the Mustangs, McMillion captained the SMU squad in 1954 after lettering the two previous years. He won a total of seven Southwest Conference individual championships, never losing a backstroke event in his three varsity years. When he graduated, he held the conference records in both the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes.

Quick received both his Bachelor's and Masters Degree at SMU, began his coaching career on the Hilltop and played a huge role in starting the women's program at SMU. Quick is renowned in the swimming world for his unparalleled coaching achievements. He has coached six U.S. Olympic swimming teams and has led his collegiate teams to 12 NCAA titles.

The other 2009 inductees are:

Don Easterling: Coached the Fort Worth Panther Boys Club and Burford Aquatic Club, 1952-70. Coached UT-Arlington to prominence in 1966-70 before leaving to coach North Carolina State.

Danny Green: He won SWC swimming titles and All-America honors for Texas A&M and was a finalist for the 1943 Sullivan Award.

Phil Hansel: He is a long-time promoter of Houston swimming at the Shamrock Swim Club and the University of Houston's men's and women's programs. He was a coach or manager on two Olympic teams.

Ric Nesbit: He led Highland Park to three state titles, and at A&M and UTA, he was a 10-time All-American and seven-time NCAA champion.

Jane Kneip Patterson: She was a pioneer of women's aquatics in Texas, including being the state's first female to wear a tank suit. She was undefeated from 1947 to '55.

Melvin Pat Patterson: He was a UT team captain in 1955 and coached at A&M, Rice, Arkansas and Texas. He was instrumental in the design and construction of the UT Swim Center.

Bobby Taylor: He swam at Highland Park and A&M and won every event he entered at the 1942 and '43 SWC meet.

Joy Cushman: She was the pioneer of Synchronized Swimming in Texas.

Kuni Schultz: She was executive director of the Dad's club and coached diving for 30 years.

Graham Johnston: He has called Houston home since 1962, pioneering masters swimming in Texas. Since 1971, he has set 124 Masters National records and 81 World Masters records.

Leo Cancellare: He was head coach of the El Paso Aqua Posse from 1979-99 and a force in West Texas Swimming.

For more information on the Texas Swimming And Diving Hall Of Fame, click here.