Swim team legacy ends in 1965

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 Eleven: The Summer of 1965

Benner Cummings came back to Ritzville for one more year, even though he could have chosen to take a $1,000 offer to go elsewhere for the summer.

“Why do you keep coming back each year to Ritzville?” Journal reporter John W. Lyman asked Benner at the end of the 1964 summer. “Nobody is paying you anything.”

“A man has to share what he knows,” Coach Cummings answered. “Ritzville is very athletic minded and very friendl...