A new scholarship will memorialize a former Freeport, Ill., resident and record-setting member of the swimming and diving team at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The Bill Gelwicks Memorial Scholarship, dedicated to the memory of a 1966 graduate of UWSP, has been chartered by Red Blair, retired swimming and diving coach at UWSP for 32 years and Gelwicks� team mate Tim Siebert, Stevens Point.

Gelwicks died of kidney failure in 1970, just as he was beginning his career as a teacher and swimming coach in his hometown of Freeport.

"It was swimmers like Bill Gelwicks and many others who inspired me to give back to them as much as they gave to the sport," Blair said.

"I didn�t swim with Bill, I swam against him," said Art Luetke, McFarland, a UW-Platteville alumnus. "He was one of the best and a great guy too." Luetke and Bill�s father, John Gelwicks of Freeport, have made leadership gifts to begin the fund. Contributors also include other UWSP swimmers and supporters, former teammates and Gelwicks family members.

Founders of the fund have set a goal of raising $10,000 in order to generate an annual scholarship of $500. The recipient will be a student from the men�s or women�s swimming and diving team who has used up his or her athletic participation eligibility and has made a significant contribution to the leadership of the team.

While on the UWSP swim team, Gelwicks set many team, pool and conference records in freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events. He was twice named outstanding swimmer in the NAIA District 14. The old UWSP swimming pool was named The Bill Gelwicks Memorial Pool, but was retired after a new aquatics center was added as part of the Health Enhancement Center in 1990.

For more information or to make a donation to the fund, contact Deborah Anstett, development director for the UWSP College of Professional Studies, (715) 346-2130.

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