Swimming Has Three Inducted Into Texas Hall of Fame
Dec 4 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Dec. 4, 2009
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU will have three members associated with its program honored on Saturday at the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational. Richard Quick, George McMillan and Jerry Heidenreich will each be inducted in Austin in a ceremony Dec. 5 at 5:45 pm just prior to the last night of finals of the competition.
Quick, who passed away in June of this year after a fight with brain cancer, coached the Mustangs' women's program from 1976-78. He was the first coach in the program's history, and is widely credited for playing a large role in bringing the program to the Hilltop. He grew up in Dallas, received both his Bachelor's and Masters Degree at SMU and began his coaching career on the Hilltop. Quick was a six-time United States Olympic coach who directed 13 teams to NCAA titles, the most ever by a swimming coach.
McMillan served as team captain while a swimmer for SMU. Accolades he accomplished include being named All-American and a Southwest Conference record holder. Following his undergraduate days, he was a Mustang assistant coach for 14 years and head coach for 17 years. During his tenure he coached 78 All-Americans, 15 NCAA champions and 4 Olympic medalists. Aside from his collegiate accomplishments, McMillan also was the coach for the United States National team in 1978, 1982 and 1983.
Heidenreich is known as one of the most decorated swimmers in SMU history. A native of Dallas, he set 17 school records and was an NCAA 200 yard freestyle champion. Jerry was a two time High School State Champion for Hillcrest High School. He also is well known on the international stage, winning two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.
The Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational will run through Saturday evening on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. It will be the last event for the Mustangs before taking a month off for the holidays.
