Don Leas and Dennis Miller Posthumously Honored With the R. Max Ritter Award

On behalf of Carol Zaleski, chair of the USAS Max Ritter Award subcommittee of USAS, Don Leas (USA) and Dennis Miller (FIJI) were chosen as the recipients of the R. Max Ritter Award.

“On Tuesday, December 7^th, Tom Gompf, Todd Smith and I met with Carol Leas on a FaceTime Call. We showed Carol the presentation video prepared in Fort Lauderdale. Carol and the Leas family were very moved to receive such a prestigious award honoring Don Leas,” said Steve McFarland, former president of USA Diving and former US Olympic coach. “Don’s contribution to Diving both domestically and internationally was most impactful and will be his legacy for many years to come.”

Carol Leas expressed her gratitude to USAS for the honor and said “Don would be over the moon with such a great recognition.”

On Monday, December 13th, Dale Neuburger, the 2019 recipient, and Sid Cassidy will hold a similar presentation with the members of the Miller family honoring the contributions of Dennis Miller.

The R. Max Ritter Award is donated by the Ritter Family and is presented 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 goodwill among nations through international participation in amateur aquatic sports.

Past recipients of the Max Ritter Award are listed below:

R. Max Ritter Award Presentation (posthumously) honoring Don Leas
Photo Courtesy: Gregory Eggert

2019 Dale Neuburger

2018 Frank “Frankie” Flowers
2017 Adolph Kiefer
2016 June Krauser
2015 Rose Cody & Giovana Moreira
2014 United States Anti-Doping Agency
2013 Nick Thierry
2012 William “Bill” Matson
2011 Eldon Godfrey
2010 Francisco Javier Lopez Chaves
2009 Bartolo Consolo
2007 Coarcy Nunes Filho
2006 Tom Gompf
2005 Orban Mendoza
2003 Gerald T Olson
2001 Hironoshin Furuhashi
2000 Lynn Bates
1999 Julio Maglione
1998 Carol Zaleski
1997 Allen B Richardson, MD
1996 Klaus van de Pol
1995 Billy Payne
1992 Spanish Swim Federation
1991 Ross Wales
1990 Mustapha Larfaoui
1989 William Lippman
1988 Robert H. Helmick
1987 Dr. John A Bogert
1986 Javier Ostos Mora
1985 David Jay Flood
1984 Jan Armburst
1983 Masaji Kiyokawa
1982 Buck Dawson
1981 Pat Besfort
1980 Dr. James E. Counsilman
1979 Deutscher Schwim-Verband
1978 Douglas F Roby
1977 Yugoslav Swim Federation
1976 Dr. Harold W. Henning

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