{"id":339931,"date":"2018-11-29T16:45:44","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T23:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=339931"},"modified":"2018-12-14T09:33:55","modified_gmt":"2018-12-14T16:33:55","slug":"passages-remembering-rogers-tiger-holmes-nov-13-1921-nov-28-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-remembering-rogers-tiger-holmes-nov-13-1921-nov-28-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Passages: Remembering Rogers \u201cTiger\u201d Holmes – Nov. 13, 1921 – Nov. 28, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is saddened to report the passing of Rogers Baldwin \u201cTiger\u201d Holmes<\/strong>, at the age of 97.\u00a0 Tiger served as member of ISHOF\u2019s Board of Directors from 1991 to 1996, as Chairman of the Board from 1996 to 1998 and was the recipient of the organization\u2019s Gold Medallion Award in 1998.\u00a0 Here are some thoughts from a few who were impacted by his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cTiger Holmes represented everything that is right about swimming. He had a pure love for the sport and the people in swimming. He had a sharp sense of humor and I could sit and listen to him for hours as he spun one incredible tale after another. There are some other amazing Tigers out there but for me, there will be only one. Tiger Holmes\u201d\u00a0 – Rowdy Gaines<\/strong>: Olympic Champion\/Olympic Commentator, ISHOF Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved that man! When I first met Tiger, I was just 18 and he was this very accomplished and successful 62-year-old businessman.\u00a0 Yet you would have thought he was meeting royalty. \u00a0So enthusiastic, so welcoming and so happy to have me swimming for Florida and his Holmes Lumber Gators. \u00a0For a kid 3,000 miles from home his support and friendship meant so much to me. He made me feel like he was my biggest fan but he treated all the other swimmers the same way. \u00a0Over the years he never changed. He was still so enthusiastic, with incredible energy that was conveyed through his clear, sparkling blue eyes. \u00a0I was so proud to wear sweats with a tiger tail on them and am so grateful for having had him as a friend.\u201d – Mary Wayte Bradburne<\/strong>: Olympic Champion, ISHOF Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

\"Holmes,-Tiger-005\"<\/p>\n

\u201cTiger was such a wonderful human being and he definitely bled orange and blue. I\u2019ve never seen anyone so dedicated to swimming as Tiger was to swimming and the University of Florida. He was our biggest cheerleader and truly epitomizes what giving back means. \u00a0I\u2019m sure all Florida Gators and everyone who knew him are mourning his passing.\u201d – Dara Torres<\/strong>: Olympic Champion, ISHOF Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was just a tremendous backer of the sport of swimming. \u00a0Not just my program but the sport of swimming. \u00a0I doubt there are many people who loved swimming as much as Tiger Holmes.\u201d – Randy Reese<\/strong>: Head Coach, University of Florida and Holmes Lumber Gaters, ISHOF Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

\u201cTiger Holmes was larger than life in so many levels, but with all that he was he was the most humble person and underneath his \u201cgood old boy\u201d veneer he was whip smart. \u00a0It was apparent to me right away, that Tiger cared about us not just as swimmers, but that he wanted us all to be happy and successful in life beyond swimming and in return we all wanted to make him proud of us. \u00a0I was blessed to be a small part of Tiger\u2019s life.\u201d – Craig Beardsley<\/strong>: World Champion, World Record-holder, 1980 Olympian<\/p>\n

\u201cTiger was a warm and delightful man who loved swimming and the \u201cEvery Child A Swimmer\u201d goal of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. \u00a0In addition to supporting ISHOF, Tiger\u2019s Holmes Lumber Company sponsored a program to teach disadvantaged children in his hometown of Jacksonville how to swim. \u00a0Many of the children didn\u2019t even have bathing suits, but from 1990 to 1992 he\u00a0 managed to teach 12,000 kids to swim! That was just in the summer. A great man and a friend of swimming who will be missed by all who knew him.\u201d – Dr. Bill Kent<\/strong>: ISHOF Chairman of the Board<\/p>\n

\u201cIt got me to 93! My doctor told me if I hadn\u2019t swum I\u2019da been dead ten years ago. So I keep at it.\u201d – Tiger Holmes<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Photo From His 97 Birthday Last Week… Celebrating With Daughters Leighton and Mary (L to r)<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n

Graveside Services with Military Honors:<\/h3>\n

Wednesday Dec. 5th at 2:30 PM at\u00a0Evergreen Cemetery.
\n4535 Main St N
\nJacksonville, FL 32206<\/p>\n

Reception to Follow the Services:<\/h3>\n

Timuquana Country Club at 4:00 PM
\n4028 Timuquana Road
\nJacksonville, FL 32210<\/p>\n

Overview of Tiger Holmes<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • International Swimming Hall of Fame, Gold Medallion Award (1998)<\/li>\n
  • International Swimming Hall of Fame, Chairman of the Board (1996-98)<\/li>\n
  • International Swimming Hall of Fame, Board Member<\/li>\n
  • Holmes Lumber sponsors Jacksonville \u201cEvery Child A Swimmer\u201d learn to swim initiative (1991 – 1992)<\/li>\n
  • Charles McCaffree Award, American College Coaches Association (1989)<\/li>\n
  • Jacksonville Area Sports Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)<\/li>\n
  • Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame inductee<\/li>\n
  • Southeastern Conference champion, 50 freestyle (1942)<\/li>\n
  • World Masters champion, 50 butterfly (1990, 1992, 1994)<\/li>\n
  • USMS national champion (14 titles)<\/li>\n
  • University of Florida Hall of Fame<\/li>\n
  • University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame<\/li>\n
  • Founder of the Holmes LumberJax Masters Team<\/li>\n
  • Sponsor of the Holmes Lumber Gators, University of Florida club team (1984-88)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In 2015 Tiger made swimming history when he teamed up with three other masters swimmers, whose average age was 90.5 years to set a world 4 x 200 meter relay record that may never be broken.<\/p>\n

    To see a feature from “Growing Bolder”<\/a> about this world record \u2013 see Growing Bolder<\/p>\n