MCCOLLUM'S COLUMN: Bumpers helped begin a wave of swimming in Arkansas

John Bumpers has been lost in the cross-currents of several icon figures that we have lost lately.

Bumpers, who died last week after a lengthy illness, is a major loss to the local and state swimming community. He was one of the most significant transitional figures in the development of swimming as a competitive sport in Arkansas, from youth to high school to adults.

He was one degree away from the late Bob Courtway, the late coach and Hendrix athletic director who was a father and relentless nurturer to Arkansas swimming.

As a youth, Bumpers not only learned to swim but developed a passion for swimming under Courtway. He became a star on the first Hendrix Aquakids youth swimming team in 1961, one of the first competitive swim programs in the state. The water became a home and sanctuary for Bumpers.

As a teenager, he set several age-group records and won several state championships at Conway High School. He was an NAIA All-American at Hendrix College and has been inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Honor for his achievements.

In an activity that is mostly foreign in this area of the country, he was the outstanding player in the 1971 NAIA National Water Polo Championships.

Bumpers was a prime example of how a person can carry the passion for a sport in his youth to a lifelong love and activity. He was an outstanding swimmer in competitive meets in his adult years and into masters swimming before he was stricken with a form of leukemia.

"John had a lot of natural ability," said Jim Kelly, the longtime director of aquatics at Hendrix. "I swam in some national masters meets with him and even as a masters swimmer, I can tell you he had speed."

A couple of records that Bumpers set at Hendrix took almost two decades to break and the late Eric Hooyschur did it with some strong swims in a fast pool at the NAIA national meet.

What was impressive about Bumpers is he kept giving back to swimming, not only as a sport but as a recreational activity for youth of any size, shape, demographic and ability. He served as president of the Arkansas Swimming Association as much out of love as duty.

Throughout his life, he stayed connected and devoted to the Aquakids, serving on their board of directors and helping guide the organization through some tough times.

The last time, I saw Bumpers was at a Hendrix Sports Hall of Honor banquet about three years ago. Part of that conversation was about swimming, the need for a new aquatics center at Hendrix and how much he enjoyed taking a few laps for the fun of it that day. The sparkle in his eye indicated how much he loved swimming.

That's love, not just like somewhat.

He also loved to see young people develop and grow in the swimming, competitive or recreational.

"What always impressed me was that he played a leading role at the Aquakids level even though he didn't have children involved with the program," Kelly said.

Bumpers was one of the first major impact swimmers from Arkansas on a national level. He's a perfect example of how an activity begins as just something to do carries over to a lifelong passion.

"John initially set the bar for swimming in Arkansas," said Kelly. "And it was a high bar."

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)