Rusty Owens
1935 -
Interview Length: 48 minutes
Interview Date: July 19, 2009
Interview Location: WHBG Channel 20, 223 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA
In the 1950s, ten-year-old Rusty Owens earned nickels and dimes delivering groceries every Saturday while pulling a wagon to the Broad Street Market. In school, Rusty was confused by Harrisburg's racial segregation. As student council president at John Harris High, he successfully integrated black girls on the all-white cheerleader and majorette teams. Owens earned a football scholarship at Lebanon Valley College,but he dropped out sophomore year to join the Marine Corps, where he became a swimming instructor. After returning to Harrisburg in the early 1960s, he formed the Harrisburg Swim Club, which he made open to kids both in the new suburbs and in the inner city.
- Rusty Owens talks about growing up in Harrisburg.
- Rusty Owens describes different Harrisburg communities.
- Rusty Owens talks about John Harris High School.
- Rusty Owens talks about High School sports.
- Rusty Owens describes being a swimming instructor in the military>
- Rusty Owens talks about flight to the suburbs.
- Rusty Owens talks about what inspired him to become a swim coach and teacher.
- Rusty Owens remembers coaching Olympic swimmers.
- Rusty Owens talks about teaching generations of families to swim.
- Rusty Owens mentions today's challenges.
- Rusty Owens talks about how Harrisburg has changed.
