U.S. Masters Swimming Officials Excellence Award
| Recipient: | Ted Haartz |
| Year: | 2021 |
| LMSC: | Arizona |
While living in Massachusetts, and still in his 20’s, Ted Haartz began a lifetime of officiating as a stroke and turn judge. He volunteered at AAU, high school, and college swim meets. An avid swimmer himself, he discovered Masters Swimming and at the age of 43, attended the 2nd annual Masters Swimming Championship meet, which was held in Amarillo, TX in 1971. Ted represented the Bays Club of Waltham and drove from New England to Texas with his teammates to Texas. From that time, and continuing well into his 80’s, Ted was an accomplished swimmer, winning national championships in numerous strokes.
Ted volunteered as stroke and turn official at the meets he attended. He worked the deck at both local and national meets. Starting with the short course nationals in Fort Lauderdale (1975), Ted was on the deck through Santa Clara in 2014. He was a stroke and turn official at long course national meets during the same span of years, starting with Knoxville, TN going through College Park, MD. Ted also officiated at the two FINA World Championship meets held in the US: Indianapolis, IN in 1992 and Stanford, CA in 2006. No matter what the level of competition, Ted would be working the deck in between his races.
An early honoree, Ted received the USMS Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award in 1976. He was the USMS Vice President in 1977 and President from 1978 through 1981. For 30 years after that, he served as the USMS Liaison to USA Swimming, attending USA Swimming board meetings in Colorado during that time.