Rusty Wailes
Encyclopedia
Richard "Rusty" Donald Wailes, a.k.a. Perfect Oarsman (March 21, 1936 in Edmonds, Washington
- October 11, 2002 on Lake Washington
) was an American
rower.
Wailes began sport rowing
when he entered Yale University
in the fall of 1954. Within two years he was part of the gold medal
-winning eight-man U.S. team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
. Wailes and his Yale teammates represented the United States in the 1956 Olympic team after defeating other collegiate teams in the eight-man Olympic trial. At the Olympic trials just Wailes and his crewmates set a world record in 5 minutes, 52 seconds.
His crews defeated Harvard four consecutive years in the Harvard-Yale Regatta
.
Rusty earned again Olympic Gold as part of the four-man coxless crew at the 1960 Games
in Rome
. That team included John Sayre and two other rowers from other colleges at the Lake Washington Rowing Club. They won the Pan American Games
in 1959 and then went off to the Olympics in Rome.
John Sayre, Rusty, and his wife Lynne were a part of the original group, 'Sing-Out 65,' which became Up With People
. John had been a member of the Moral Re-Armament
show 'Space is so Startling' (recording year 1962). Rusty then became Dean of Men at Mackinac College
, which was located on Mackinac Island
site where Sing-Out had formed. Mackinac College was dedicated to training students who were 'Learning to learn, learning to live, and learning to lead.'
In 2002, Wailes, who lived in Woodinville, died of a heart attack while rowing on Lake Washington.
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
- October 11, 2002 on Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rower.
Wailes began sport rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
when he entered Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in the fall of 1954. Within two years he was part of the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
-winning eight-man U.S. team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Wailes and his Yale teammates represented the United States in the 1956 Olympic team after defeating other collegiate teams in the eight-man Olympic trial. At the Olympic trials just Wailes and his crewmates set a world record in 5 minutes, 52 seconds.
His crews defeated Harvard four consecutive years in the Harvard-Yale Regatta
Harvard-Yale Regatta
The Harvard-Yale Boat Race or Harvard–Yale Regatta is an annual rowing race between Yale University and Harvard University. First contested in 1852, annually since 1859 except during major wars fought by the United States, The Race is America's oldest collegiate athletic competition, predating The...
.
Rusty earned again Olympic Gold as part of the four-man coxless crew at the 1960 Games
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. That team included John Sayre and two other rowers from other colleges at the Lake Washington Rowing Club. They won the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in 1959 and then went off to the Olympics in Rome.
John Sayre, Rusty, and his wife Lynne were a part of the original group, 'Sing-Out 65,' which became Up With People
Up with People
Up with People is an international education organization founded in 1968 by J. Blanton Belk, building from roots in the similar "Sing-Out" program of 1965. Up With People is best known for their musical performances by international casts consisting of 70–100 students from, on average, 20...
. John had been a member of the Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
show 'Space is so Startling' (recording year 1962). Rusty then became Dean of Men at Mackinac College
Mackinac College
Mackinac College was a private liberal arts college which opened on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in the fall of 1966 and closed several years later. The campus was later turned into a hotel, Mission Point Resort....
, which was located on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
site where Sing-Out had formed. Mackinac College was dedicated to training students who were 'Learning to learn, learning to live, and learning to lead.'
In 2002, Wailes, who lived in Woodinville, died of a heart attack while rowing on Lake Washington.