Robert M. Hick '54 Christened at the Ten Eyck Boathouse on Onondaga Lake
3/28/2008 5:23:44 PM | Men's Rowing
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Having a vessel named for your is the highest honor in the sport of men’s rowing. Former rower and coach Robert M. Hick received that honor when the Syracuse men’s rowing team named a new racing shell after him in a christening ceremony today at the Ten Eyck Boathouse on Onondaga Lake. The new Empacher shell hit the waters of Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River for the first time under the supervision of Mr. Hick and his two daughters.
Hick comes from a family with several Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. His parents graduated in 1920, both his wife and daughter Susan are SU graduates and his daughter Barbara worked as an intern in the SU Athletic Department.
“Loyalty seems to be part of who Hick is,” head coach Dave Reishman said. “Forty-two years with the same company and here we are 54 years after his graduation honoring him for his generous gift to our program.”
Hick rowed for four years and graduated from ESF in 1954. He returned to campus after spending two years in the Army on active duty in Germany to earn a master’s degree in 1954. While in graduate school Hick coached/started a lightweight crew for one year.
Following his master’s degree Hick went to work for DuPont where he stayed for his entire 42 year career.
With only a few spectators and the men’s crew in attendance Hick delivered a heart-felt message to the student-athletes.
“What you learn here (while rowing at Syracuse) you will take with you the rest of your life. You are going to learn qualities about yourself. As you go on in life these qualities are going to help you professionally. It will help you be a better spouse, a better parent and a better citizen in the community in which you choose to live. Rowing doesn’t end the last time you are on the water. It never ends as long as you live. Enjoy the boat. Have a great time with it. Make it come out first if you can and give it the honor is deserves. You represent a great university and great program and keep that in mind every time you are out here working at it.”
The Orange men’s crew squad begins the spring season at the San Diego Crew Classic on April 5-6.
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