Richard Dennis “Dick” Fadgen died in his home on May 7, 2022 after a battle with cancer. He was 86 years old.
Fadgen was born in Rhode Island, where he began his swimming career at the Woonsocket YMCA. He then went on to have an impressive AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) career while competing for LaSalle Academy. At LaSalle he was named to the national high school All-American team in breaststroke and individual medley from 1952-1954. In 1954 he was a member of the U.S. All-Star team, competing in Japan, Mexico, and Guatemala. After high school, he went on to compete collegiately at North Carolina State University.
At NC State, Fadgen was a six-time All-American, graduating in 1958. In 1956, Fadgen became the first swimmer in program history to win two events at NCAAs, placing first in both the 200 breast and 200 fly to help lead the Wolfpack to their second consecutive top-5 finish. Fadgen also won eight ACC championships for the Wolfpack, including three-peats in both the 200 fly and 200 breast from 1956 to 1958.
In 1956, Fadgen narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic Games, finishing second in the 200 breaststroke by one-tenth of a second behind winner Robert Hughes (2:44.4) at the Olympic Trials. While Fadgen was not selected to compete, he was officially listed as an alternate for the Games which took place in Melbourne. In the prelims of trials, he set an American record in the 200 breast, going 2:44.0.
Fadgen traveled extensively as a national team member, including participating in the 1955 Pan American Games. In 1954, during a meet at Yale University, he broke the world record in the 220-yard breaststroke. Later, Fadgen became an accomplished triathlete, never allowing himself to venture too far from the water.
In addition to his impressive swimming career, Fadgen leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a coach and mentor. He began teaching at the University of Memphis in 1963, where he remained for over 30 years. He coached swimming for several decades, beginning at Appalachian State.
In 1970, Fadgen founded the University of Memphis’s first varsity swimming program. After the program was discontinued in the 90s, it was renamed Memphis Tiger Swimming. The program lives on as the oldest USA swim club in the city.
In 1983, Fadgen was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame. Five years later, he was also inducted into the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1988. He has received several other honors, including being selected as the AAU’s Outstanding Swim Coach in the southeast United States in 1978. The Southeastern Swimming LSC named a prestigious award after him- the Dick Fadgen Senior Coach of the Year Award– which is presented to an outstanding coach annually.
Memphis is planning to name the new pool at the Mike Rose Aquatics Center in Fadgen’s honor.
Fadgen’s wife of 58 years, Polly, died in 2018. He is survived by his five children, 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Fadgen’s obituary can be found here. Memorial Services for Dick Fadgen will be held at 10 A.M. Saturday, May 21, 2022 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville. Interment will be in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64.
Amazing person.
Dick and I were friends back in Woonsocket! He was a great guy and a perfect gentleman! I followed his swimming career faithfully.
Dick was a good friend since our high school years. I competed against his team in the New England High school championships in the 1950’s.
During our collegiate years, we faced off on many occasions in the competition between YNHSC and NCAC.
In 1955 at the LA our two teams went head-to-head in the 400-medley relay.
Condolences to the Fadgen family . The comments by Jack Roach ( nationally and internationally renowned swim authority) show how influential Dick was during both his swimming and coaching years. Besides Jack and others , he coached and mentored Univ of Texas coach Kris Kubik . The NC State and Memphis swimming communities are lucky to have had Dick as a favorite son !
Dick was a great coach
I grew up swimming in Little Rock, competing against his team in Little Rock and in Memphis.
I had no idea of his remarkable swimming accomplishments. RIP Coach.
I believe only two things shape our lives. People and events. Dick coached me over a 3 years period. He was newly married and he and his wife Polly pulled back a curtain for me to witness the lifestyle of a swim coach.
My brother and I would travel with them at the end of the summer seasons to Rhode Island in an old Rambler station wagon and surf along the way. I have often wondered if my career as a coach was conducted in a way that would honor the man who had this huge positive impact on introducing me to the craft we shared.
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I only had the pleasure of a few Master’s workout with Coach. He so impressed me with his ability to have his swimmers train hard but have fun. Like taking a Saturday workout day off to do the Memphis Canoe race. The love his swimmers had for him was like nothing I had ever seen. Incredible man.