Biographical and Historical Note

WFU's swimming and diving team began around the time of coach and physical education professor Leo Ellison's hiring in 1956. Across his time as coach, Ellison coached all men's and co-ed teams after women arrived on campus. Ellison also took students on coaching trips - to Cairo, Egypt, in 1966, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and in the 1970s several trips to Mexico.

Ellison left his swim coach post in 1978 and became the head of intramural sports while retaining his teaching duties. Tom Alm took on coaching duties of the swimming team in 1978. As a result of Title IX reforms on campus, and in acknowledgement that WFU's pool facilities were not high-quality, Athletic Director Gene Hooks removed the varsity team in 1980, to the protests of the team's athletes and others. Ellison passed away in 2015.

Andrew (Drew) Taylor is from Charlotte, N.C., and earned a bachelor's degree in history at Wake Forest (1966) while on the swimming and diving team. According to WFU Athletics Department, Taylor's five individual ACC titles is the fourth-most in Wake Forest history of any athlete, and Taylor is the only Deacon swimmer or diver to win an ACC Championship. Taylor attended UNC Chapel Hill for law school (1966-1969) and coached their diving team. Taylor served as a legal officer in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 and was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement for his service. He has worked as an attorney in Charlotte in more recent years.

Nicholas (Chip) Bach earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry (1975) from WFU.

Thomas (Tom) Laraway earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry (1980) and, in addition to being on the swimming and diving team, was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Laraway, along with swimmers Ron Cobb (1980), Jim Kusel (1980) and Andy Hudnell (1983) participated in the program's final event, the 1980 ACC Championship 400 freestyle relay.

Sources:

• "Drew Taylor Inducted Into Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Class Of 2020," SwimSwam. Available online.
• "Leo Ellison Interview," 175th Anniversary Oral Histories Collection, Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives. Available in Digital Collections.
• "WF swim team protests demise," Old Gold and Black, 1980 September 26. Available in Digital Collections
• The History of Wake Forest University, Volume V, 1967-1983. Available in Digital Collections

Collection Overview

This collection documents WFU's swimming and diving team, in existence from 1956-1980, and its individual athletes. Materials include brochures, letters, programs, photographs, medals, trophies, and team clothing.

Collection Inventory

• Swimmer and team materials (circa 1957-1981)
  • Annual programs and brochures  (1975-1980) box 1 folder 1
  • Annual booklets and brochures  (1976-1980) box 1 folder 2
  • Bach, Nicholas (Chip), news clippings, team brochures, and programs, framed, with memorabilia diagram (circa 1971-1975) box 9 box 10
  • Bach, Nicholas (Chip), senior letterman plaque  (circa 1975) box 1 folder 3
  • Bach, Nicholas (Chip), trophy: Most Valuable Swimmer  (1972-1973) box 4 item 1
  • Bach, Nicholas (Chip), trophy: Most Valuable Swimmer  (1973-1974) box 5 item 1
  • Laraway, Thomas, photographs and student materials (circa 1979, 2000s) box 1 folder 4
  • Laraway, Thomas, scholarship letters  (1977) box 1 folder 5
  • News clippings and Howler article  (1977-1981) box 1 folder 6
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), ACC award for excellence in scholarship and athletics  (1966) box 6 item 2
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), swimming and diving medals and patches from Junior Olympics (circa 1957-1962) box 8 item 1
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), swimming and diving medals from Wake Forest, ACC, Olympic Development, U.S. Army (circa 1960-1972) box 7 item 3
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), trophy: Monogram Club Most Valuable Swimmer  (1965) item 1
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), trophy: Monogram Club Most Valuable Swimmer  (1966) item 2
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), U.S. Army 68th Medical Group plaque from Vietnam (1970 July-1971 June) box 7 item 1
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), U.S. Army Medical Service Corps Bronze Star Medal and pins  (1971) box 7 item 2
  • Taylor, Andrew (Drew), Who's Who of Students in American Universities and Colleges notice, framed  (1965-1966) box 6 item 1
  • Workouts and swim times  (1977-1980) box 1 folder 7
• Team memorabilia (circa 1975-1980)
  • 3 ACC championships medals: 200 IM, 100 BA, and 400 medley relay (circa 1975-1980) box 3 item 6 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Nicholas (Chip) Bach.

  • Collared shirt, gold (circa 1975-1980) box 3 item 2 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Tom Laraway and team alumni.

  • Collared shirt, white and gold (circa 1975-1980) box 3 item 4 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Tom Laraway and team alumni.

  • Duffel bag, "Wake Forest Swimming" box 2 item 1 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Doug Brady.

  • Jacket, yellow (circa 1975-1980) box 3 item 5 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Tom Laraway and team alumni.

  • T-shirt, "Swimming" (circa 1975-1980) box 3 item 3 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Tom Laraway.

  • Speedo racing swim trunks, "WFU," from 1980 championship  (1980) box 3 item 1 Scope and Contents

    Donated by Tom Laraway.

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

Athletics Department. Swimming and Diving Records

ID

RG21.16

Date

circa 1957-1980

Quantity

5 oversize boxes, 3 artifact boxes, 1 record carton, 1 document box, 2 trophies

Extent

18.22  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2022

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research. 

Copyright Notice

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Athletics Department. Swimming and Diving Records (RG21.16), Z. Smith Reynolds Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

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