DANIEL A. SPAIGHT JR.

2007 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

      Daniel Spaight Jr. was a swimmer, lifeguard, swim & water safety instructor, pool director, coach, official, referee, and starter. A Rhode Island native, who has spent his entire life here in Rhode Island, Dan continues with his aquatic career which is going strong into its sixth decade.

     Dan a graduate of LaSalle Academy, joined team-mates in his junior & senior year to help win the 1952 State swimming championships over Tolman East. His summers started as a lifeguard, then swim instructor, and onto pool director. He worked from 1951 to 1966 at Lincoln Woods, Moonstone & Matunuck beaches, RI Country Club, E. Providence High School, and Pawtucket Country Club. He was also swim instructor for the Girl Scouts, Barrington Red Cross, and Foster Rec Department.  Throughout his professional career, which included being a teacher, assistant principal, vocational director, executive director and asst. professor, Dan has always stayed involved in RI swimming. For over ten years he life

guarded at EPHS under Roy Watmough, and eventually became pool director. Dan coached the LaSalle Academy swim team for six years helping them win 90% of their meets only defeated by powerhouse Cranston East.

      Dan is best known in RI swimming for his involvement with the RI Swim Officials. In 1961 Dan was founding member of the RI Swim

Coaches & Officials Association along with Brother Antony, Orlando Savastano, and Harold Anderson. From 1967 to present, Dan has been a RI Interscholastic League swimming official. Many years he led the championship meets as the referee and starter. He was named the RI Swimming Official of the Year in the mid 1980’s. He was board president of the officials’ association and has been the treasurer for twenty years.

      Dan, retired from teaching in 1995, but remains active with his RI swimming official duties. Dan and his wife Jacqueline reside in East Providence and will celebrate fifty years of marriage on November 23 ^rd. Their children are Linda, Susan, and Thomas, and five grandchildren.