LCA Hall Of Fame
/\286 Jack Frailey
Jack, a member of the United
States Rowing Hall of Fame, was the most successful coach in MIT's
history. Among his many accomplishments
during his 20-year career coaching the Tech Crew were a national championship
in 1954, winning the Thames Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1954
and 1955, and in 1962 his varsity was the only crew in MIT's history to win the
Compton Cup.
Jack
has swept the awards from US Rowing:
US Rowing Medal
Criteria: Given in
recognition to a member of the rowing community in the U.S. who has rendered
conspicuous service to or accomplished extraordinary feats in rowing. It is the
highest honor US Rowing can bestow.
Selectors: US Rowing Board
of Directors
Past Winners
2002 - Jack Frailey
Jack Kelly Award
Criteria: Awarded to
outstanding individuals who represent the ideals which Jack exemplified:
superior achievements in rowing, service to amateur athletics, and success in
their chosen profession, thereby serving as an inspiration to American rowers.
Selectors: US Rowing Board
of Directors
1992 - Jack Frailey
John J. Carlin Service
Award
Criteria: Awarded to honor
an individual who has made significant and outstanding commitments in support
of rowing.
Selector: US Rowing Board
of Directors
Past Winners
1982 - Jack H.
Frailey
Jack is currently head of the
MIT Crew Alumni Association.
While achieving all these accomplishments in Rowing, Jack was doing a few things
professionally as well. Jack was the
project manager for the X-7A Test Plane.
He was the first project manager for the Polaris Ballistic Missile. He was involved with Project Corona, the spy
satellite program in the ‘60s.
Finally,
Jack was financial aid director at MIT for all of us over 40.
This tribute is from George Dotson /\463
You mentioned the possibility of a “toast” or
“roast”. In Jack’s case, it could never be a roast. His crews had
too much respect for him. I had the opportunity to write words about Jack
in a letter to the Institute last spring, and I have lifted some words as
follows:
My life at MIT combined the education, the fraternity living
group and the boathouse. There were strong bonds through all three
experiences, particularly when they overlapped. The Institute was the
Institute.
We exchanged commitments with Lambda Chi. The boathouse
was truly an elective in that mix: There were probably a dozen Lambda
Chis on heavy and lightweight crews; crew came after studies; we walked or
hitchhiked to and from the boathouse; we worked out in darkness for much of the
year; and, there was no training table. We did more with less for
ourselves, the Institute and for Jack.
Jack Frailey was a catalyst for us as a crew and, most
importantly, as individuals. He juggled his family life, career and
schedule to be our coach and mentor. To each of us, he projected a vision
of the successful professional gentleman we could be.
Jack was a gentleman in every respect, and he treated us as
younger gentlemen. Jack encouraged us about the “possibilities” and the
very real possibility we could compete in the “big league" and do
well. And, we did. We won many of our races over the 1961 and 1962
seasons and were in position to win all of them. We won the Compton Cup
in 1962 for the first time since MIT donated the Cup in 1929 to
Harvard-Princeton-MIT competition.
The 1961 and 1962 boats departed MIT with much more than our
diplomas. With modest means, big hearts, and a “life-coach”, we competed
successfully in the “bigs”, and we discovered the power of “possibilities.
| 