Bob Needham

From Openwaterpedia
Bob Needham

Bob Needham (born 10 February 1953) is an American open water and marathon swimmer and observer who lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is a member of the [[Half Century Club]. a lifetime member of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation, and a lifetime member of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association. Bob also acts as an observer for both the CCSF and the SBCSA.

Needham began his open water career at the age of 16 as a lifeguard on Lido Beach in New York. After swimming on his high school swim team in Bethesda, Maryland, Bob found himself landlocked in Colorado and directed his competitive instincts toward mountaineering. Bob returned to competitive swimming after a decade in the mountains of Colorado & Alaska, and was named a US Masters All American in Long Distance Swimming in 1982. He spent nearly 20 years in Santa Barbara, California where he could be found swimming solo off the beaches of nearby Carpinteria, and surfing at his favorite break Rincon Point.

In 2010, Needham created Bob Swims for Suicide Awareness. He did so for a few reasons. First, to respond to an urgent need to raise awareness of the great tragedy that results when someone takes their own life. Second, to help those who are at risk of committing suicide by raising money to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Finally, to pursue the passion he has for open water swimming. Bob is using the Catalina Channel, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim and the English Channel as three of the more important highlights in his campaign.

Education

  • University of Oregon Law School (JD 1982): Environmental & Natural Resources; Ocean & Coastal Law
  • University of Colorado (BA 1976): Philosophy & Physics
  • Johns Hopkins

Significant Open Water Swims

Catalina Channel Half Century Club

1. Jim Clifford (USA), 62 years 11 months, CM in 9:49 on 28 September 2014
2. Bob West (USA), 62, CM in 15:49 in 1998
3. Gary Greenwood (USA), 62, CM in 13:08 in 2004
4. Pat Gallant-Charette (USA), 60, CM in 14:11 in 2011
5. Mo Siegel (USA), 60, CM in 13:08 in 2011
6. Scott Lautman (USA), 60 CM in 12:09 in 2013
7. Bob Needham (USA), 58, CM in 13:10 in 2011
8. Tom Hecker (USA), 57, CM in 10:45 in 2009
9. Richard Knepper (USA), 56, MC in 11:56 in 2005
10. Barbara Held (USA), 56, CM in 9:36 in 2010
11. Mark Smitherman (USA), 56, CM in 11:52 in 2014
12. Carol Sing (USA), 55, CM in 10:38 in 1997
13. Bill Hoehn (USA), 55, CM in 12:57 in 2005
14. Kevin Murphy (Great Britain), 54, CM in 15:23 in 2003
15. Roger Finch (South Africa), 54, CM in 9:45:02 in 2012
16. Dave Van Mouwerik (USA), 54,, CM in 12:09:07 in 2012
17. Ned Denison (Ireland), 54, CM 8:50:04 in 2012
18. Peter Tanham (Australia), 54, CM in 10:07 in 2014
19. Anthony McCarley (USA), 54, CM in 13:00.3 in 2014
20. Nick Almos-Lau (Mexico), 53, CM in 12:40 in 1999
21. James Fitzpatrick (USA), 53, CM in 14:59 in 2008 (to Newport Beach)
22. Jim McConica (USA), 53, CM in 10:19 in 2004
23. Douglas McConnell (USA), 53, CM in 12:41:13 in 2012
24. David Cooper (USA), 52, CM in 13:19 in 2005
25. Dan Richards (USA), 52, CM in 10:10 2008
26. Chris Burke (USA), 52, CM in 11:22 in 2014
27. Alan Bell (USA), 51, CM in 9:28 in 2001
28. Chris Palfrey (Australia), 51, CM in 10:30 in 2009
29. Lynn Kubasek (USA), 51, CM in 15:53 in 2009
30. Daniel Robinson (USA), 51, CM in 9:57 in 2008
31. Ron Collins (USA), 51, CM in 10:05 on 10 September 2013
32. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), 50, CM in 10:25 in 2009
33. William Newbern (USA), 50, CM in 12:48 in 2005
34. Ray Meltvedt (USA), 50, CM in 15:25 in 2010
35. Suzie Dods (USA), 50, MC in 18:36 in 2010
36. Dale Petranech (USA), 50, CM in 13:28 in 1985
37. John Hill (USA), 50, CM in 19:15 in 1985
38. Frank Reynolds (USA), 50, CM in 10:34 in 1987
39. Jim Barber (USA), 50, CM in 8:43 in 2010
40. Sue Free (USA), 50, CM in 11:23 in 2012
41. Bridgette Hobart Janeczko (USA), 50, CM 11:27:16 in 2012
42. Hendrik Meerman (USA), CM, 50, 12:48:30 in 2012
43. Scott Tapley (USA), MC, 50, 17:43:12 in 2014

SBCSA Lifetime Members

The following individuals are lifetime members of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association:

External links

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