Race of Glendons

Last week Navy's crew coach Richard Glendon telegraphed to Columbia's coach: "I can't lose and may win the Navy-Columbia race." He couldn't lose because Columbia's coach is Richard Glendon Jr. Any victory would be a Glendon victory.

But if Glendon Sr. did not lose his race, neither did he win it. At the end of the race Columbia's crew sat up very straight and flattened their oars as crews do when they finish first. Three lengths behind them the Navy men were still rowing. A little later they too flattened their oars but they did not bother to sit up straight. Still later, U. S. Subchaser No. 440, which had carried the Navy shells and oars from Annapolis to the Harlem River, took them back to Annapolis. Glendon Jr. did not answer his father's telegram. He merely remarked to questioners, "Oh, that's an old New England saying!"

Two years ago Glendon Sr. was Columbia's coach and his son was assisting him. Then Glendon Sr. went to the Navy and Columbia kept the son. In last week's Columbia crew every man but one had once been coached by Glendon Sr. But no Glendon crews ever raced each other in a dual meet until last week.

It was in Cape Cod, where he still grows cranberries, and to which he returns every summer with his son, that Glendon Sr. first loved the water. At 19, he was made official coach of the Boston A. A. He has never stopped coaching since. Between him and his son exists a quiet undemonstrative affection. Glendon Jr. calls his father "Dick." His father answers with "Rich."