Dave Malbrough, Masters All-American, Dies at 88

August 6. DAVE Malbrough, 88, a frequent USMS national champion and All-American, died yesterday
after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Dave lived in South Bend, Indiana, and swam with the Florida Maverick Masters. He and his teammates
recently were featured in SWIM Magazine as one of the oldest relay teams in swimming history.

Dave was born in Chicago and began swimming competitively at Lindblom High School. He also played golf and competed in speed skating. He swam on the
varsity team at Grinnell College in Iowa for four years and never lost a backstroke race. During his sophomore year, his undefeated team won the Missouri Valley Conference, beating both Iowa State and the University of Nebraska. As a junior, he set the conference record in the 150 yard backstroke.

Dave returned to swimming 45 years after his college graduation and in 1976 swam in his first national meet. Since then, he won numerous national championships and was a USMS All American 33 times since 1993.

In June 1994, Dave competed at the World Championships in Montreal and was disappointed with his slow times. His doctor diagnosed him with asthma but that didn't keep him out of the water.

He aged up to 85 just in time for 1998 YMCA Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale. His most meaningful swims at that meet were breaking Tom Cureton's 12-year-old record in the 50 yard back (46.81) and Gus Langer's 500 yard free record (9:55.12).

He joined the Florida Mavericks for the Long Course Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale that summer and won all six of his events, set the national record in the 50 meter back (53.24), and helped his men's small team repeat as national champions.

Last summer at Long Course Nationals in Baltimore, he won the 50 meter breaststroke and joined his teammates Regan Kenner, Don McCullough, and Jean Troy to set a USMS record in the 320+ Mixed Medley Relay, breaking the previous record by 12 seconds with their time of
3:44.07.

Dave was a steadfast supporter of Grinnell College through the Men's and Women's Swim Teams. He competed in his last meet at the college in November 2000 as a member of the Grinnell Alumni Swim Team (GAST).

A memorial service is planned for later this month in South Bend, Indiana. Please contact Mark Waltz at 219-243-3500, extension 306 for further information.

–Penny Bates and Mike Daley

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