Capt. Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award

Recipient:	Bob Bruce
Year:	2021
LMSC:	Oregon

Bob was honored with the Ransom J. Arthur Award, acknowledging over twenty years of exceptional volunteer service. Two years after becoming the head coach of Central Oregon Masters Aquatics (COMA) in 1996, Bob joined the Oregon LMSC board. He initially served as the Coaches Chair, and eventually became the Long Distance Chair, a position still held when he received this award. In 2002 he joined the USMS Coaches Committee and in 2003 Bob began a 4-year term as the USMS Coaches Committee chair.

A long time director of the Cascade Lakes Swim Series, a 3-day open water festival, Bob’s passion for open water and long distance swimming was always evident. He moved on from the USMS Coaches Committee to become an integral part of the USMS Long Distance Committee and eventually the Open Water Committee, where he served as the inaugural chair. Bob served on three USMS open water task forces while serving on these committees. He chaired the Long Distance Rules and Legislation subcommittee for 12 years and led the revision and organization of the Long Distance rules on an annual basis. 

Bob also designed and built a quarter-mile cable course at Foster Lake (OR) and COMA has hosted seven National Championship events there since 2011. He mentored dozens of event hosts in the Oregon LMSC, which sanctions an amazing number of open water events each year. Taking on long distance pool events, Bob encouraged members from Oregon to take part in the USMS National Championship postal swims. Under his leadership, many of the events were hosted by clubs within the LMSC and hundreds of Oregon swimmers participated each year.