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Katherine
Rawl's swimming prowess (1930-1939) not only
put the tiny beach town of Fort Lauderdale
on the map as a tourist destination, but
it launched Fort Lauderdale's swimming legacy
with the beginning of the College Swim Forum
in 1935 and later the International Swimming
Hall of Fame in 1964.
At
five feet two and a muscular 107 pounds,
she was described as "a tiny slip of a girl
with the fighting spirit and trim lines of
a tarpon." But it was the kind personality
and charm of this Fort Lauderdale High alumna
that sold South Florida and Fort Lauderdale
to millions in newsreels,magazines,
and newspapers across the world.
Katherine
Rawls reigned supreme over American swimming
and diving during the 1930s. In 1937 she
was elected by the Associated Press as "The
Number One Athlete of the Year" among female
competitors taking top honors over champions
including Patty Berg, Babe Didrikson, Alice
Marble, and Eleanor Holm.
Katherine
Rawls inspired generations of children and
is amongst the greatest athletes Florida
has produced, capturing a record 30 national
titles in swimming and diving. During her
career, Katherine won 14 national outdoor
swimming titles, 11 indoor national titles
and five national diving titles in addition
to making the 1932 Olympic Diving Team and
the 1936 Olympic Swimming and Diving Teams,
and holding the world record in the individual
medlay.
At
her retirement in 1939, Katherine joined
the war effort by becoming one of the world's
top woman flyers and one of the original
25 women pilots selected for the U.S. Squadron
of Women's
Army Ferry Service, who shuttled World War
II planes to combat zones for the Air Transport
Command.
Through
her athletic accomplishments and goodwill
Katherine Rawls became as much associated
with South Florida as coconuts, orange juice,
Seminoles, palm trees, pelicans and alligators.
In honor of her many accomplishments, Fort
Lauderdale Mayor Virginia Young declared
January 28, 1973, Katherine Rawls Day in
the City of Fort Lauderdale.
For
more information, visit the web site www.ishof.org.
References:
Burghard, August. Half A Century In Florida
Dawson, Buck. Weissmuller
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