Former Rice Head Swim Coach Frederick Breckwoldt Passed Away
12/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 19, 2005
MARBLE FALLS - Former Rice head men's and women's swimming head coach Frederick B. Breckwoldt, who coached the Owls for 16 seasons from 1966-67 to 1981-82, died on Dec. 15 at the age of 73. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Dec. 21 (Wed.) at Trinity Episcopal Church (on Highway 1431 at Avenue D) in Marble Falls.
Years before the passing of Title IX legislation, Breckwoldt was one of the pioneers for the advancement of women's intercollegiate athletics in the state of Texas. In 16 seasons at the helm of the Owls' swim program, he coached 14 Rice women to 24 Division II All-America awards. Two of his Rice student-athletes, Lisa Pena and Kay Snell, set national records in their events. Rice finished 10th in the country at the AIAW Division II national meet in 1981. The Owls were eighth in the nation in 1980.
A respected leader in the coaching community, Breckwoldt was named the president of the National Collegiate Swim Coaches Association in 1981. He was also the chair of the Southwest Conference swim coaches organization. Breckwoldt also served an academics counselor in the Rice athletics department.
Breckwoldt was born in Scarsdale, New York, in 1932. He was a multi-sport letterman in swimming, football and baseball at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He earned a master's degree in Biology from the University of Houston in 1962.
In addition to his Rice duties he worked at St. John's School for 18 years as head of the science department, biology teacher, and coach of several sports. In Houston he also coached numerous swimming clubs including the Shamrock AAU team, the Tealwood Country Club, the Racquet Club and the Rosenberg S.C. He spent ten years at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin as head of the science Department and athletics coach. After retiring and moving to Kingsland he became a board member of the Blue Lake Golf Club and the Nightingale Archeological Society.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Abigail; sisters Ruth Fraley, Jane Gest (Don), Marie Bent; Ann Walker (Don); son Andrew and wife Joan, children Megan and William; daughter Gretchen and husband, Michael Tolnay, children Matthew and Amber, son, Christopher and wife Gayden, children Abby, Emma, and George.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial contributions be made to either Trinity Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 633, Marble Falls, Texas 78654 or the Llano Uplift Archeological Society, P.O. Box 302, Kingsland, Texas 78639.