Sam Merrick

Last updated

Sam Merrick [1]
Sam Merrick.png
Former president of the International Soling Association
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Vaughn Merrick
NationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Born(1914-03-24)March 24, 1914
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania,
DiedApril 17, 2000(2000-04-17) (aged 86)
Medford, New Jersey
Sailing career
Class(es) Thistle, E-Scow, Soling
ClubBurgee of Severn Sailing Association.svg  Severn Sailing Association
College team University of Pennsylvania graduated in 1940
Updated on 24 March 2020

Samuel Vaughn Merrick (born 24 March 1914, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania - 17 April 2000, Medford, New Jersey) was a sailor and preeminent labor lawyer under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson from the United States.

Contents

Personal life

In 1947, Merrick was married to Eleanor Perry of Dover, Massachusetts. The couple has three son's John, Gregory and Tad. Sam earned a Bachelor's degree in engineering in 1937 and a law degree in 1940, both from the University of Pennsylvania. [1]

Professional life

Merrick retired in 1977, after working 35 years in labor and Congressional relations. [2] He was a preeminent labor lawyer under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. [3]

Sailing

Merrick was an accomplished sailor in one-design sailboat races since 1926. He won twice the E-scow Nationals (once in the 1930s and once in the 1980s). [4] In his Soling years he had an intense rivalry and friendship with Stuart H. Walker. After his retirement Merrick became the (unsalaried) director of the United States Olympic yachting committee. In 1980, he added the title of chairman. He prepared the American Olympic team until the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. After that disappointment for the US sailors Sam started to get sailors to be engaged for competing in the 1984 Olympics. Merrick's team was able to win a medal in every of the seven Olympic classes (three gold and four silver Medailles. For this he was awarded the most prestigious award in American sailing, the Nathaniel G. Herreshoff Trophy, in 1984. [2] [5] Sam was president of the International Soling Association from 1987 - 1990. [6] [7]

Death

Sam died at the age of 86 as result of pancreatic cancer at his house in Medford, New Jersey. [4]

Sporting positions
Preceded by President International Soling Association
1987 - 1990
Succeeded by

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Melges</span> American sailor (1930–2023)

Harry C. "Buddy" Melges Jr. was an American competitive sailor. He earned national and international championships in several classes in conventional sailing and ice-boating and is widely regarded as one of the top racing sailors of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soling</span> International racing sailing class

The Soling is an open keelboat that holds the World Sailing "International class" status. The class was used from the 1972 Olympics until the 2000 Olympics as "Open three-person keelboat". Besides the Olympic career of the Soling the boat is used for international and local regattas as well as for recreational sailing. The Soling is managed by the International Soling Association under auspician of World Sailing since 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1972 consisted of a total of six sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 29 August 1972 to 8 September 1972 of the coast of Kiel-Schilksee in the Bay of Kiel. Kiel hosted the Olympic sailing competitions for the second time, having previously done so during the 1936 Summer Olympics. The sailing was done on the triangular type Olympic courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Sailing</span>

The United States Sailing Association is the national governing body for sailing in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team.

The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition. Candidates eligible for consideration include skippers, afterguard, crew, designers, builders, organizers, syndicate managers, supporters, chroniclers, race managers, and other individuals of merit. A selection committee of twenty-two members consisting of former America's Cup participants, yachting historians, and yachting journalists annually selects a class of one to four inductees. Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and Prada have been sponsors of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies.

Gary Jobson is a retired racing sailor, television commentator, and author based in Annapolis, Maryland, and a former vice president of the International Sailing Federation. Jobson has authored 19 sailing books and is editor-at-large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines. He is currently president of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Smart (sailor)</span> American sailor

Paul Hurlburt Smart was an American sailor and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received a gold medal in the star class with the boat Hilarius, together with his son Hilary Smart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage Yachting Games</span>

The Vintage Yachting Games are an international Quadrennial multi class sailing event for former Olympic classes and the former Classes of the Paralympic Games. The Vintage Games is held every four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Vintage Yachting Games</span> Sailing competition in Lake Como, Italy

The 2012 Vintage Yachting Games was the second post-Olympic multi-class sailing event for discontinued Olympic classes. The event was held on 7–14 July 2012 on Lake Como in Italy. The organization of this event was in the hands of the Multilario, a joint venture of local yacht clubs at Lake Como. The Vintage Yachting Games Organization (VYGO) was the governing organization. A total of 225 sailors in 113 boats from 17 countries competed in seven Vintage Yachting Classes

John Paul Kostecki is an American competitive sailor of Polish descent. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started his sailing career in the San Francisco Bay, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Henderson (sailor)</span> Canadian sailor

Paul Franklin Henderson is a former president of the International Sailing Federation, renamed since as World Sailing, and is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert L. Stone</span> American yacht racer

Herbert Lawrence Stone was an American magazine editor and publisher, and a renowned sailor. He was the editor of Yachting from 1908 until 1952.

Hamish Pepper is a New Zealand sailor. He competed at the 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart H. Walker</span> American sailor

Stuart Hodge Walker was an American Olympic yachtsman, writer, and a professor of pediatrics. He competed as a sailor at the Olympic Games; won many national and international championships in different classes and wrote over ten books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy den Outer</span> Dutch sailor (born 1954)

Rudy den Outer is a sailor from the Netherlands, who represented his country at the 2008 Vintage Yachting Games in Medemblik, as helmsman in the Dutch Soling Sophie's Choice. Den Outer with crew members Leo Determan and Ronald den Arend took the Gold. In the 2012 Vintage Yachting Games, this time with crew members Gavin Lidlow and Ramzi Souli the team took the Silver medal in Bellano, Italy. In 2003 with helmsman Fred Imhoff and Richard van Rij he became European Champion in the Dragon at Kinsale, Ireland. Den Outer is also very active in the organization of major International Sailing events for Olympic and former Olympic classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Severn Sailing Association</span> Private yacht club located in Annapolis, Maryland, US

The Severn Sailing Association is a private yacht club located in Annapolis, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Van Dyke</span> Sailor from the United States

Jack Van Dyke was a sailor from the Wisconsin, United States, who became the second president of the International Soling Association.

Timothea "Timmy" Larr is a naval architect and three-time winner of United States Women's Sailing Championship. She was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2013. She is also known for her work in developing training programs for sailors in the United States.

Allegra ("Leggie") Knapp Brickell Mertz (1913-1989) was a four-time United States' women's national sailing champion and the first women to receive the Nathaneal G. Herreshoff Trophy from US Sailing.

Jan Chance O'Malley is an American sailor who was named US Sailor of the Year three times: in 1969, 1970, and 1977.

References

  1. 1 2 Litsky, Frank (21 April 2000). "Samuel V. Merrick, 86, Director of U.S. Olympic Yachting Team". New York Times. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Samuel "Sam" Vaughn Merrick". National Sailing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. "Samuel V. Merrick Oral History Interview – JFK#1, 10/17/1966" (PDF). John F. Kennedy Library. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 "SAM MERRICK by Stuart Walker" (PDF). Vol. 14, no. 4. International Soling Association. p. 11. Retrieved 24 March 2020.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. "Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy". US SAILING. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. "Former SJ man earns national sailing honor". Courier Post. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  7. "SAM MERRICK TO BE NEW PRESIDENT" (PDF). International Soling Association. p. 11. Retrieved 24 March 2020.