Chikopi’s Swim Coach Ray BUSSARD – age 82 of Knoxville, Tennessee, died Wednesday night, September 22, 2010 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center from a long bout with diabetes. Ray spent many good summers at Chikopi and put Chikopi swimmers through his many stroke drills. At Chikopi, Ray was always assisted by daughter, Christie, “Tiger”, Bussard who also attended Ak-O-Mak for over a decade.
Coach Ray coined the word, “spezzerinctum”, used at Chikopi to represent that extra desire, mental strength and fortitude needed for success. There are many, “Ray Bussard Stories”, but perhaps the most memorable was his mid-night swim workout. Ray had arrived at Chikopi just before dark, but still wanted to get in a workout his first day. Bob set up spot lights on the pool and woke up all the swimmers at midnight. It was, “brisk”, in the water that night but everyone was so proud the next day at breakfast having completed Chikopi’s only mid-night workout.
With wife, Ruth, Ray originated the Baton of Victory, presented each year to the winning coach of the NCAA National Championship Team. Matt Mann II was the recipient of the “Baton”, several times, as Michigan won many National Titles during his coaching career. Matt’s “Baton”, currently sits on the Chikopi Mainhouse mantel and is, “kept alive”, by using it to “pass” from winner to winner each year at Chikopi’s sporting events. For the past 18 years, Bob has had the honor of representing the International Swimming Hall of Fame, at each of the NCAA National Championships to present the Baton of Victory, on behalf of Ruth and Ray.
Coach Ray had a unique ability to coach any sport, and coach it well. His coaching career started as a football, baseball, track and basketball coach before being asked to coach the University of Tennessee swim team, a sport about which he knew very little technique. Being a strict disciplinarian, he insisted the swimmers all cut their hair short and wear ties and jackets when traveling. As a result, the swimmers all quit the team, but gradually returned stronger than ever under Ray’s leadership. Ray also became known for the other traditions he brought – the wearing of coonskin caps and emptying a bottle of their home pool water into an opponent’s pool. Over time he became coaching stalwart of the South East Conference, one of the strongest swimming conferences in the U.S. A. Within a few years, 1978, Tennessee won the coveted NCAA National Championship Team Title.
Coach Bussard was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, 1999, the Tennessee Swimming Hall of Fame (which he established in 1982), Tennessee and Virginia sports halls of fame, Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, College Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame, Bridgewater College Hall of Fame, and was NCAA coach of the year in 1972 and 1978. Yet he never swam a race in competition. He was sprint coach for the U.S. team in the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, and coach U.S. teams in the 1979 Pan Am Games and Pan Pacific Games.
Chikopi’s love goes out to Ruth and daughters Tiger, Jackie and Kerry. Rays photograph hangs in the Chikopi Mainhouse where he will always be remembered for his coaching and swimming enthusiasm – and for his friendship to Chikopi.
Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 AM Monday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church with Father Michael Noland officiating. Family and friends will meet 2:00 PM Tuesday at Woodland Cemetery, Bath County, Virginia for interment service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The University of Tennessee Athletic Department, Men’s Swim Team in care of UT Athletic Department, 1551 Lake Loudoun Blvd., Knoxville, Tn., 37996. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.
http://ishof.org/honorees/99/99bussard.html
