Five powerful swimmers anchored 1964 squad

The coming weeks will be devoted to one of this city’s sport’s heroes, coaching legend Benner T. Cummings. — M. M. Athey & The Ritzville Swim Club­

Part Ten: The Summer of 1964

Five of the best swimmers the Inland Empire had ever boasted comprised the core of the Ritzville Swim Club in 1964. This quintet possessed 13 of the 33 all-time records still held by the club.

Tom Thomas, Tom Baumann, Bob Wood, Brian Miller and Jim Thomas were the most formidable opponents the swimmers from Spokane, Pullman and a dozen other clubs would face this summer.

Joining the team for the first time were several...