Dr. F. Eugene Melder, a professor of economics, was Clark’s first crew coach. He launched the crew program in 1941 and directed the team for thirteen years. Melder honed his own rowing skills as an oarsman at the University of Washington, whose rowing team was renowned as one of the nation’s finest.
Melder introduced crew, not only to Clark, but also to Worcester, as Clark developed the first intercollegiate crew program in the city. Melder infused his team members with enthusiasm, desire, and motivation in addition to teaching novice rowers the technical aspects of the sport. His innovative spirit led him to design and build an indoor rowing tank so athletes could train during the winter months.
In 1960, the university’s first new eight-oared shell was christened the "Doc Melder" in honor of Clark’s father of rowing. Although Melder handed over the reins of the program in 1961, he remained actively involved with its major development activities especially fundraising, until his death in a tragic plane crash in December 1968. He was survived by his wife, Eleanor Morrill Melder, who died in 1993.
His children include Dr. Keith eugene Melder, Susan Melder Lenoe, and Prisccilla Rice.
PRESENTER:
(Dr. Ike N. Resnick '58 Accepting for Melder was his son Dr. Keith Eugene Melder)
