Jimmy, The Concluding Pages

“He was a great favorite with the team—so full of personality and a great morale builder.”—Jack Lumsden, swimmer and LaSalle College coach I have learned many things about my dad during the course of writing this book. Most of the discoveries have been about his coaching career and almost all of the input has come from his former swimmers at Swarthmore College. I have compared the comments I have received during the past year with letters and notes sent to Jimmy at the time of his retirement dinner in 1973. A number of swimmers wrote in 1973 and again recently. I am simply amazed at how similar each of their memories is of Jimmy, then and now, even after thirty-three years. I am also struck by comments about Jimmy’s ability to relate to swimmers on a personal level, his humor, and his inspiration, which encouraged team spirit, loyalty, and individual accomplishment. Standing out among all of his accomplishments was Jimmy’s unique ability as a coach to provide the competitive and supportive environment in which both average and talented swimmers somehow became motivated to perform their best in competition. Season after season, from 1937–38 to 1971–72, the records show that his swimmers exceeded even their own expectations and capabilities. I believe creating that type of environment happens when a coach loves his job and the athletes he coaches—and they respond. Swimmers and family saw Jimmy as a charismatic, fun-loving person; however, as a child and later as an adult, I viewed these same characteristics as a manifestation of an underlying problem in his life—alcoholism. Happy times for my dad were occasions for him to drink, and often drink heavily. I grew to detest his drinking because I believed that he demeaned himself at these times and I could never understand why he did that to himself. My dad’s drinking habits had a profound effect on my life—and his. I have also learned much about my McAdoo ancestors from the genealogy research I have been conducting. I have a clearer understanding of our heritage and it has helped me better appreciate my dad’s life. We McAdoos come from humble Irish roots. My great great grandfather, William McAdoo immigrated to Philadelphia about 1850 and worked as a laborer and later as a teamster. My great grandfather, James worked at the iron furnaces and in the quarries of the Great Chester Valley, and later as a farmer. My grandfather, Jim was a steamfitter. My dad, Jimmy made a living over the years as a clerk, a bartender, and a truck dispatcher, but he will always be remembered as a swimming coach. I have learned that we do not have to be constrained by our background to be successful, and that life is not necessarily about achieving material things or in the case of coaching, about wins and losses. My dad’s life has shown me that success can mean much more, and it can be achieved in spite of our human frailties. I have often reread the poems written by Bill Ehrhart and John Ridland and the following excerpts continue to bring tears to my eyes. “The last time I saw him he was stooped and puffy, moving with slow deliberate care— but he went for a ride in my MG Midget, muttered a curse in my ear, and kissed me with an exuberant joy ageless as the love which binds him to us even now.” From “Jimmy” by William D. Ehrhart, Swarthmore ‘73 “Good spirit, now, so long. Next time we greet each other It will be spirit to spirit Across a darkened water.” From “Jimmy McAdoo Swims Back Across the Styx” by John Ridland, Swarthmore, ‘53