Passages: James Stocker, YMCA Swimming Pioneer, Age 92
James Stocker, who spent more than 30 years as an official and leader in the world of youth swimming, died on Aug. 12. He was 92 yeas old.
Stocker was the first chairman of the National YMCA Swimming and Diving Committee in the early 1970s. He helped establish, then served from 1971-86 as the meet director, for the YMCA National Swimming and Diving Championships, helping the meet grow into one of the largest in the nation. Stocker spent eight years as the YMCA’s representative on the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee. He served as the women’s meet manager for 1972 Olympic Trials and the men’s meet manager for 1976 Trials. Stocker also was instrumental in expanding YMCA certification programs for coaches, officials and volunteers.
James Stocker
“Jim took our National YMCA Swimming and Diving Championship Program to the next level,” said Paul Atkinson, a former vice chair of the YMCA Swimming and Diving Committee and the YMCA’s swimming historian. “The first Combined National YMCA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving was held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1971. The meet coordinators were James Stocker and Gene Keltner who served as the National YMCA Chairman for Women’s and Men’s Swimming and Diving respectively. Jim was a good friend and will be missed by many.”
Stocker inaugurated the Joseph G. Rogers Award in 1974, given for “exceptional leadership, insight, dedication and friendship by a person whose YMCA career has touched and enriched the lives of countless young people.” Stocker was the third recipient of the award, in 1976.
From the award presentation then:
An inspiring and dedicated layman in the YMCA movement, Jim has guided and directed this National YMCA Program to great heights and making it the finest in the country today. He has touched the lives of literally thousands of people from across the country. He has earned the respect of all people he has come in contact with. It is with great pride that we present this award to him.
James R. Stocker is a native of Hinsdale, Ill. He graduated from Lyons Township High School and attended Grinnell College. He completed his studies at the University of Illinois after serving in the United States Army in the Korean War. He lived in Western Springs, Ill., until 2020, splitting time between there and the family’s second home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
“Working with his volunteer team, Stocker developed a game plan to improve YMCA Swimming,” said John Mendell, a former meet director for YMCA Short Course Nationals. “ He was a real worker dedicated to swimmers, coaches and parents. He figured out the best way to execute it and with the strength of his personality developed a great group of volunteers to execute everything, always with a nice balance between YMCA professionals and volunteers.”
Stocker’s swimming work was just one part of his giving back to the community. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Western Springs and was a member of the Rotary Club. He also served as a board member for Camp Manito-Wish in Boulder Junction, Wisc., for more than 20 year, including as board president. (In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Manito-Wish YMCA in Stocker’s honor, or to Agrace Hospice.)
Stocker is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce, and the couple’s three children and one grandchild.