The Stan Pocock Rowing Center honors the legacy of an exceptional boat builder and legendary coach. Stanley Richard Pocock (1923-2014) was a legendary figure in the world of rowing in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Born and raised in Seattle, Stan had an early connection with rowing as both an oarsman at UW and as a boatbuilding apprentice with his father, George – a legendary pioneer in the world of building racing shells.

 

 

Although many associate Stan, like his father, with boatbuilding, he also had a gift for coaching. One of the greats of his time, Pocock coached eight different crews to the Olympics between 1956 and 1964. Seven of the eight crews made it to the finals, four won gold medals, and two won bronze. No coach in U.S. Olympic history has come close to matching this record in men’s rowing.

 

 

Stan carried on the family tradition and ran the boatbuilding shop for almost 20 years, overseeing its transition from building wooden boats to using synthetic materials, and is credited with creating the first fiberglass rowing shell in 1961. Under Stan’s careful stewardship, the Pocock company transitioned to these new, technologically superior materials and pioneered a new breed of racing shells that were stronger, lighter, and faster than ever.

 

It gave Stan great joy to see so many young people learn to row and thrive in the environment of the boathouse, and we are proud to honor his legacy through the Stan Pocock Rowing Center.

 

“Now, my earnest desire is that the community-oriented
rowing projects that we envision – will be known
and celebrated for generations to come.”
– Stan Pocock