Honoring FINA Vice President Bill Matson, 2012 Recipient of Max Ritter Award
Honoring FINA Vice President Bill Matson, 2012 Recipient of Max Ritter Award
On July 28th in London, representatives of United States Aquatic Sports presented Joan Matson with the 2012 Max Ritter Award.
Richard Max Ritter (November 7, 1886 – May 24, 1974) was born in Magdeburg, Germany and competed for Germany in the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics. He was educated in London from 1906 to 1909 and in 1910 he immigrated to the United States. He was one of the 8 founders of FINA on July 19, 1908 where the group set uniform international rules for swimming, diving, water polo and established world records for swimming.
Ritter was the only person to have served in each of the three officer positions within FINA. Ritter served as FINA Honorary Secretary and FINA Honorary Treasurer. In 1960 he was elected FINA President, the first American to serve in a FINA leadership position. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, under Ritter's leadership, FINA membership grew to more than 90 National Federations. He served as the treasurer of the US Olympic Committee and was active for more than 50 years in the Amateur Athletic Union. In 1965 he was inducted as an Honor Contributor in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The R. Max Ritter Award is donated by the Ritter Family and is presented annually by United States Aquatic Sports to the organization or individual of a FINA member country who has contributed the most to the advancement of understanding and good will among nations through international participation in amateur aquatic sports.
Ritter was the only person to have served in each of the three officer positions within FINA. Ritter served as FINA Honorary Secretary and FINA Honorary Treasurer. In 1960 he was elected FINA President, the first American to serve in a FINA leadership position. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, under Ritter's leadership, FINA membership grew to more than 90 National Federations. He served as the treasurer of the US Olympic Committee and was active for more than 50 years in the Amateur Athletic Union. In 1965 he was inducted as an Honor Contributor in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The R. Max Ritter Award is donated by the Ritter Family and is presented annually by United States Aquatic Sports to the organization or individual of a FINA member country who has contributed the most to the advancement of understanding and good will among nations through international participation in amateur aquatic sports.
About the 2012 Recipient of the R. Max Ritter Award
William "Bill" Matson is the 2012 recipient of the R. Max Ritter Award presented by United States Aquatic Sports in recognition of his 40 years of service to aquatics. "United States Aquatic Sports today honors the memory of a man whose unselfish contributions were often behind the scenes, but always for the benefit of athletes and their coaches across each of FINA's aquatic disciplines" said USAS President Jim Wood
Matson, with his wife Joan often at his side, became involved in swimming administration in New Zealand shortly after their children were drawn to the sport. Bill retired from the New Zealand Public Service in 1999 following a distinguished military career. At the time of his retirement he held the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense. In 2010 he was honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who appointed him an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to swimming.
Bill was first a President and then a Life Member of Swimming New Zealand after holding similar positions in the Wellington Swimming Association. He was President of Oceania Swimming Association from its inception in 1991 until 2008 overseeing the first 7 editions of competition in swimming, open water swimming and synchronized swimming.
In 1992 he was appointed to the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee. Four years later he was elected a member of the FINA Bureau and was appointed as the FINA Bureau's Liaison to the Open Water Swimming Committee.
Bill was re-elected to the FINA Bureau in 2000 and in that year he was appointed to serve as the Liaison to the FINA Masters Committee. In this capacity he and Joan traveled to Riccione, Italy last year to visit the aquatic venues and to oversee the organization of the 14th edition of the FINA World Masters Championships, the most successful edition recently contested last month.
Many will recall Bill's dedication as the FINA Protocol Officer from 1997 to 2009, a responsibility which included the coordination of presenters for every swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo medal presented to athletes at the World Swimming Championships and at the Olympic Games. He was elected FINA Vice President in 2005. During his volunteer tenure he served on the board of the New Zealand Olympic committee.
Among the many tributes to Bill is that of FINA President Julio Maglione "Bill's example and devotion for the aquatic sports will remain a reference in our mind and heart. His sudden death represents a great loss not only for FINA but also for the entire continent of Oceania, where he has been one of its most distinguished and appreciated officials."
"I had the opportunity to travel to the 4th edition of the Oceania Swimming Championships and was warmly greeted by Bill during my visit to in 2002 in Nouméa, New Caledonia." said USAS President Wood. "We recall Bill's message of encouragement to the youth of Oceania at the opening ceremonies:
"This Championship event is an important milestone for all our competitors, but particularly for the swimmers as it is a qualifying meet for the Olympic Games in Athens. For many competitors this will be your first opportunity to experience international competition. I hope that your efforts are successful and the next door of international competition opens up for you."
Bill and Joan were inseparable and a lovely couple, traveling extensively between FINA events visiting extraordinary sights and ordinary shops along their journey. At the next event they would catch us up on their most recent excursions. During their last Christmas together they stayed in a snowy cottage in England arriving days after the "Snowstorm of the Century". Their battle to get to a nearly paralyzed London from Dubai following the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships made their time together all the more memorable.
The couple lived at Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast where they enjoyed a long association with Raumati Swimming Club. Bill is survived by Joan, his daughter Susan, his son Paul and four grandchildren. A cruise on the Nile River was in the planning stages for November 2012, intended as a celebration of the couple's 50 years of marriage.
