NEALE MCGARRY

1992 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Neale decided to concentrate on competitive swimming after he won the annual one mile race at Camp Yawgood in 1952.  To get him started on the right track his Scoutmaster, Bill Clough took him to Bud Latham at the Fox Point Boys’ Club.  

Bud, a premier Hall of Fame coach, groomed Neale into a New England AAU Champion in backstroke, butterfly, long distance freestyle, and individual medley events.  Neale also led the club to New England and Sectional Team Championship titles in 1957 and swam butterfly when the team won the National Junior Medley Relay Championship.

When he was not swimming in Boys’ Club meets he was an integral part of LaSalle Academy’s dynamic swimming team.  Under the superb coaching of Harold Miroff, LaSalle dominated the State Championship Meets including National Catholic Interscholastic Championships.  Neale was an All-State swimmer for three years in three strokes, co-captain of the LaSalle Team and was voted the Rhode Island Boys’ Club outstanding swimmer in 1957.

Neale spent four years at the University of Connecticut setting school records in butterfly, individual medley, and medley relays and was captain of the team in 1961.

He taught hundreds of children and adults the art of swimming at Camp Yawgoog, Cranston Pool, Park View Pool, and at the University of Connecticut.  He coached a few years in Bethel, CT when his children were competing in age group events.

In the past view years Neale’s athletic endeavors have included Marathon Running and Masters swimming.