FINA Vice President Dale Neuburger joined the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s One in a Thousand campaign, designed to help the hall prosper during the difficult financial times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My first association with the International Swimming Hall of Fame was in 1967 as a freshman in college who came to Fort Lauderdale to train at the aquatic center,” Neuberger said. “My association goes back almost 50 years to the college swim forum. It was such a well-established training situation at that time – it was really the only situation anywhere where college teams from the north came and trained in warm weather. That really established Fort Lauderdale as a center for aquatic sports and with the Hall of Fame as an anchor to that.
“So it would be impossible to train there for a few weeks without the pleasure of going through the museum and see its development. At that time, the people that were connected to the Hall of Fame were legends – Doc Counsilman, who began as the first president, Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe. It was the Hollywood of swimming so it was really exciting to be there.
Dale Neuburger & Brent Rutemiller at the 2019 FINA Champions Series in Indianapolis. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
“I was chairman of the board in 2004 so I served on the board for a number of years so I have always had great respect for the institution and the people – dedicated individuals like Buck Dawson, Bob Duenkel, Bruce Wigo and now Brent (Rutemiller), who have all brought incredible leadership to the institution and who have cared for it and loved it even at the most difficult moments financially to keep the museum at the forefront of our thoughts.
“For someone who loves the history of swimming, it is our Smithsonian, our Library of Congress, and it is the single institution that binds us all together across all the aquatic disciplines and across 209 swimming federations throughout the world. It is a symbol of our unity, a symbol of our strength, and also the variety of our sport which is more than just competitive swimming.
“The hall of fame has been so inclusive and has really provided the umbrella for the aquatic sports both globally and by discipline. There is no other entity or institution that does it in a similar way where it honors people who have contributed to our sport. In the end, we have a magnificent group of people who have made our sport important. For me, it was easy.”
Join the One in a Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.
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Dale Neuburger – 2000 Paragon Award Winner
Dale Neuburger has spent his whole life in or around water as a swimmer and administrator. His humble and unassuming mannerisms coupled with decisive leadership qualities make him an asset to the sport of competitive swimming on all local, national and international levels.
Dale Neuburger (left) with Robert Vincent at the 2019 FINA Champions Series in Indianapolis. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
As a youngster, he was a competitive swimmer at Williston Academy graduating in 1967. From there it was on to Princeton University, Class of 1971, where he swam for Hall of Fame Honoree Bob Clotworthy and his final year with Bill Farley.
For the past four decades, Dale has lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, professionally serving as Manager of the Indiana University Natatorium (IUPU), (1982-1991) and President of the Indiana Sports Corporation (1993-2000). Along the way he has served the sport with dignity and enthusiasm. He has been the Meet Director for nine NCAA men’s or women’s swimming and diving championships as well as for the 1992 Olympic Trials. He was Chairman of the 1996 Olympic Trials Organizing Committee. He has been the Venue Coordinator for the 1981 and 1982 National Sports Festival and Commissioner of Aquatics for the 1987 Pan American Games. In 1992, he was Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the FINA World Masters Championships.
Dale Neuburger is currently the vice president at FINA, the governing body of swimming, entering his 21st year as vice president for the Americas. He has been a liaison to the technical swimming committee since 2005 and is the technical delegate at the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, World Championships, and has been the event director for those competitions. Since 2009, he has been the chairman of the FINA Development Commission which has brought resources to less developed swimming countries around the world and have helped the sport grow in importance and in capability. He represents the 42 federations within the Americas to make sure they have the opportunities to be successful.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame wants to know if you are one in a thousand? We think you are! Show how special you are and become a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One In A Thousand” Club. Help keep the International Swimming Hall of Fame moving forward toward a new vision and museum by joining now!
During these unprecedented times, the ISHOF Board is calling on every member in the aquatic community to make a small monthly commitment of support to show how special you are and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
“Our goal is simple. If we get 1,000 people to simply commit $10, $25 or $50 per month, we will generate enough revenue to go beyond this Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis.” – Bill Kent – Chairman of the ISHOF Board
“Those that believe in our vision, mission, and goals can join us in taking ISHOF into the future and be a part of aquatic history.” – Brent Rutemiller – CEO and President of ISHOF
Since 1965, ISHOF has been the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics, promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational programs and events related to water sports. ISHOF’s vision for the future is to build a new museum and expand its reach by offering its museum artifacts digitally through a redesigned website.
The ISHOF Board of Directors is calling on all members of the aquatics community to make a small monthly commitment to show their dedication to aquatics and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.