After returning home from the service in 1946, Jack attended a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game with a buddy. Upon finding his stadium seats, an attractive young female usher appeared and dusted off the seat. He thought to himself, “She’s cute” (and probably more that he did not tell me). She returned later on in the game and asked Jack if he would meet her at the Pennsylvania Athletic Club. Not being shy, coupled with the fact that usher, Rita Lyons was pretty, and he quickly said, “Yes.” Jack joined her at the club, the very club, in fact, where he was introduced to rowing; a sport he has excelled in for over 64 years.
That meeting with Rita changed the direction of Jack’s future. Upon returning from the service, he simply did not know what path to take in his life. His father put pressure on him to go into the trades. He wondered what to do.
While rowing for the Pennsylvania Athletic Club, Jack’s coach Rusty Callow told him that he could help Jack get admitted to the University of Washington. Jack took him up on the offer, and was welcomed at the college in 1948, where he eventually graduated in 1953. Jack also rowed for the University of Washington while studying there.
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