Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-06
Jim" STERRETT IS
VICTIM OF STROKE
Father of Swimming" Was a
National Figure and Noted
Expert in Younger Days

James II. Stcrrett, a national figure
in swimming circles and an authority
on the sport, died at o'clock yesterday
afternoon at his home. G03T SAMSON
street. Mr.. Stcrrctt had been i'll f.:
more thnn year. but had attended to
his business up to few days before
Christmas Day. Mr.. Sterrett was
obliged to take to his bed. from which
he never arose. Last Sunday he suf
fered a stroke and from that time until
his death suffered from sinking spells.
Heart failure, supplemented by hard
| ening of the arteries, was the cause of
his death. Mr.. Sterrctt is survived b.
his wife and daughter.
James II. Sterrett was born in the old
Southwark district. Philadelphia. No
vcmbcr 1G. 1856. of Scotch Irish par
entage. He learned to swim at an early
age in the Delaware river, off the
Washington avenue wharf.
Mr.. Sterrett was instrumental in or
ganizing the first swimming club IN
America. The club was organized in
the Colonnade Hotel, September 10,
1900. This club was admitted into the
Amateur Athletic Union. it being COM
posed of twenty one members, besides
Mr.. Sterrett. who was its first presi-
dent.
For twenty five years Mr.. Sterrett
was an officer and director of the Phila-
delphia Swimming School. first in the
capacity of president and later as secre-
tary. He was n member of the boar:i
Of managers of the Middle Atlantic As
sociation and chairman of the swimming
championship committee for many
years, as we'll as delegate to the ANA :
teur Athletic Union. TIIe also was q
member Of the Athletic Club of Phila =
dclphia and its leading spirit in swim
ming activities for many years.
Jim Sterrett was known nationally
as the father of swimming" He was
conversant with every phase Of the
sport. Not only in his younger days
had he been great swimmer, but
latterly he had been coach. instructor
and lecturer. He spent much time, fol-
which he received no remuneration. in
visiting schools, business mems organ
places giving talks on all branches oI
Workmanship in an effort to popular
ize the sport and make it of cducatiOnn
value. He was also known as an cX
pert .aad critical writer on the art o.
swimming. His book or 'Ilow Il
Swim was the first technical work OF
the subject to appear in this country.
Mr.. Sterrett had won many medal
for swimming in distances from tift!
yards to fifty miles. The day he wa
fifty years old he swan mile. walked
mile. ran mile. all in fifty five min
utes, fifty four seconds, including fou
and one half minutes for change o
costume.
The deceased was secretary of tn
Philadelphia Sports Writer'S .Ass0cia
! tion. secretary treasurer of the Vet
B cran Athletic Association of philadel
phia. member of Philadelphia Turngc
meinde and the Central y. NJ. &. A.
where he was one of the leaders IL
coaching its swimming team.
Mr.. Sterrctt had been in the print
ing business most Of his life. He wa
a member of Lodge 432. F. and A, NJ.
and of University Royal Arch Chapte
Of Masons. He was a member of Oh
Swedcs (Gloria Dci ut Swanson an
Christian streets, where the funera
will be held Saturday afternoon.