‘s Georg George Schweitzer was the only Stivers swimmer in 1935. That did not seem to matter to George. He won a place in all five swimming events and third place in diving. This was a record at that time and set an all-time high for the City League swimming Championship.
George learned to swim at Bomberger Park when he was thirteen years old. He would swim at least five times a week. Before entering Stivers, George won seven ribbons and three medals for the City Championship in the 100-yard free style event. In his Sophomore year he won a medal in the District High School meet in Cincinnati for placing third in the 50-yard free style event.
In the 1930’s George swam competitively at the AAU National level. He won the back stroke and finished in the top three in the nation several times. George won the men’s K.C. Long Aquatic Championship trophy in 1947. He completely dominated the senior boy’s events by winning the 100-yard freestyle and 33 1/3-yard back stroke races, then he was part of the freestyle relay championship team. In the relay race George was behind Dick Calhoun (Ohio State’s best swimmer) by three body lengths but finished two body lengths ahead of him to win the event for his team. Swimming addicts at the time called it “the best performance that America’s finest swimmers attain”. In the 1950’s George won swim races at the Dayton Power and Light Pool every year. A newspaper article read: “George Schweitzer: ‘King of the Water'”.
As an 18 year old lifeguard at the Dayton Industrial Building swimming pool, George pulled a 60 year old drowning man from the water and administered artificial respirations to save his life. George was a retired Dayton Fireman and a WWII Navy Veteran. As a Dayton Fireman, George jumped in the Miami River to save a drowning man whose boat had capsized. In 1950 George was overcome with smoke while fighting a fire at the Arcade on Main Street and had to be revived by inhalator treatment. George was not only a great swimmer but also a hero.
George passed away in 1994. His wife, Francis died in 1997. They had three children, daughter Susan and sons, George and Richard. They also had six grandchildren.