Oregon Masters member Bob Bruce received this year’s Capt. Ransom J. Arthur MD, the most prestigious award given to volunteers by US Masters Swimming.

“Bob has worked tirelessly and with professional vigor for the past 23 years at all levels within the US Masters Swimming,” Oregon Masters member Tim Waud wrote in the nomination file on Bruce’s behalf. “He’s a coach, mentor, meet director, event director, committee chair, legislator, and he embodies the spirit of ‘Swimming for Life’.

“Whether it’s the pool, the lake, the river or the House of Delegates, Bob uses his experience and expertise to create a unique environment for everyone to be safe, knowledgeable and engaged. Bob’s exceptional commitment and enthusiasm to our sport and the USMS is evident in his dedication as a swimmer himself as well as in the time and energy he invests as a volunteer to ensure the members of the USMS for high quality opportunities.

Bruce’s volunteering began when he joined Oregon LMSC as President of Coaching in 1998, and moved to the national level four years later when he joined the Coaching Committee. He joined the Interurban Committee in 2009 and the Open Water Committee in 2011, committees he has served on ever since. He is also President and Chairman of Oregon LMSC Sanctions.

Bruce, who has been a delegate to the Annual Meeting for 21 years, also served on the USMS Board of Directors as Chair of the Coaching Committee in 2003-2006.

He was the first recipient of the Open Water Service Award in 2013 and the first recipient of the National Long Distance Championship Award in 2019. Bruce also received a Dorothy Donnelly Service Award in 2012.

His extensive volunteering at the local and national levels has earned him the Capt. Ransom J. Arthur MD, which is awarded annually to a volunteer who has done the most to promote the goals of mastery in swimming.

He learned he was receiving the award during a call from Oregon LMSC on Monday night. He will also be honored on June 26 at the USMS 2-Mile Cable Open Water National Championship, an event for which he is the Event Director.

“I have known Bob for many years in his role as a supporter and creative force for USMS Open Water Swimming,” wrote Reston Masters Swim team member Lynn Hazelwood in support of Bruce’s candidacy. “His identifiable accomplishments can be viewed on his CV. What isn’t is the quiet way he worked without fanfare and, often behind the scenes, to lead and mentor people in product development. “

Past recipients of the Capt. Ransom J. Arthur MD

2020 Frank “Skip” Thompson
2019 Jeffrey H Roddin
2018 Ed M Tsuzuki
2017 Michael W. Moore
Nadine K Day 2016
2015 Meg Smath
2014 Hill Carrow
2013 Patricia Miller
2012 Doug Church
2011 Rob Copeland
2010 Lynn Hazlewood
2009 Julie Heather
2008 Barry Fasbender
2007 Jeanne Ensign
2006 Sally Dillon
2005 Betsy Durrant
2004 Leo Letendre
2003 Sandi Rousseau
2002 Hugh Moore and Jane Moore
2001 Carolyn Boak
2000 Joan Smith, Richard Smith
1999 Jim Miller
1998 William Tingley
1997 Mel Goldstein
1996 Suzanne Rague
1995 Mary Lee Watson
1994 Nancy Ridout
1993 Kathrine Casey, Gail Dummer
1992 Walt Reid
1991 Tom Boak
1990 Jack Geoghegan
1989 Dan Gruender, Edie Gruender
1988 John Spannuth
1987 Ross Wales
1986 Robert Beach
1985 Michael A. Laux
1984 Reg Richardson
1983 Dorothy Donnelly
1982 Harry Rawstrom
1981 Cindy Baxter
1980 Ed Reed Sr., Enid Uhrich
1979 Ray Taft, Zada ​​Taft
1978 Hamilton Anderson, Mildred Anderson
1977 Paul Hutinger
1976 FH “Ted” Haartz
1975 Hal Onusseit
1974 June Krauser
1973 J. Arthur Ransom