St. Anthony Hall - University of Pennsylvania

3 1965: Deltas Take a Boat to Henley Royal Regatta A bove the photos and plaques adorning the walls of the Bright Room hangs a Tau crested oar, a relic of The Hall's 1965 trip to Henley. Our brothers came together to accomplish a historic feat, but what's more impressive, is that the group has come together again today to support future generations of the brotherhood. With a few calls from Richmond "Dick" Viall III Δ'63, the group has worked in unison, as they did on the Thames fifty-two years ago, to create a meaningful gift for the restoration of 3637 Locust Walk. It was the summer of 1965 and the men of the Delta Chapter of St. Anthony Hall were traveling across the pond to compete in the Thames Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in Oxfordshire, England. Dick says, "We were just fraternity brothers who rowed, but when the idea of doing Henley came up and when we received financial support from Crawford Madeira Δ'1912, it took on a life of its own. We were going to Henley!" Dick was part of the final team, which also included: Nicholas "Nick" Paumgarten Δ'64, Russell "Rusty" MacMullan Δ'64, Mark Thompson Δ'62, Thomas "Tom" Hovey Δ'63, Townsend Burden III Δ'64, William "Bill" Purdy Δ'65, and William "Hap" Allen Δ'64. A fraction of the Hall's rowers that year, but one of the Schuylkill's most formidable collection of men. Once the team was assembled they needed a coach. Robert "Bill" Chapman Δ'58 was recruited for his experience as the coxswain of the 1947 Kent School crew, which won the Thames Cup, and as the 1952 Varsity Coxswain at Penn. Bill brought with him his former Kent coach, the legendary Tote Walker. Hap Allen had also rowed for Tote at Kent before coming to Penn. Then the team needed a coxswain, so the brothers sought out Arthur "Art" Sculley Δ'64. "We told him this would be fun. He was already skinny and he lost more weight," recalls Nick Paumgarten. With all the components in place there was little time to prepare but they did their best. "I was just the baby in the boat; so much of the experience is now a blur. Our group had very little time to prepare for the races, but we seemed to be getting better every day," says Bill Purdy. "The one clear The Delta boat rowing in the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley. Racing the Isis Boat Club at Henley. St. Anthony Hall Henley Crew in Tau emblazoned rowing blazers. memory I have is of the cold water showers on the grounds. The Brits had a good time with us, assuring us that hot water was sure to be installed by the next day. Of course, it never was." Art Sculley explains, "In those days, there was no seeding in the Thames Cup, which I believe had 36 contestants that year. In the first round we drew Isis Boat Club, Oxford's second boat. We lost in a thriller, by I think about half or three-quarters of a length. Isis went on to defeat all other opponents over the following three days and win the Thames Cup." Losing to Isis was a disappointment but the experience was still worthwhile. "Our crew got the closest to Isis of any competitor that week. We felt we rowed a pretty good race, but with another week of practice and possibly a prior race, I believe our boat would have had a fighting chance at winning the Thames Cup. It was a great disappointment to all of us not to have had a second race," says Dick Viall. The motivation to participate at Henley was a clear sign of imagination and ambition bubbling up from within the Delta Chapter. Their crew formed the nucleus of cohesion within Penn's rowing program over the next two years, showing that brothers who work hard together can accomplish great things. On that note, the 1965 Henley rowers have recently come together again to support the campaign for Delta. Dick, calling upon the personal experiences racing at Henley, has spearheaded the initiative for a gift from the team going to the necessary renovations of The Hall. The Henley men have enthusiastically jumped on board, sighting The Hall as a focal point in their young lives and a rudder in their college careers. "The Hall became the nexus where I could spend time off the river with boat mates and other like-minded friends. With Crawford Madeira as the Hall's and rowing's patron saint we had all the elements for the putting together the most unique experience of our young lives." says Dick. Dick, Nick, Rusty, Mark, Tom, Townsend, Bill, Hap, Bill, and Art have now come together as a new generation of patron saints to 3637 Locust Walk and we are grateful for the stories, legacy, and generosity they have shared with the brotherhood. Team Captain Richmond "Dick" Viall III Δ'63 Cross of St. Anthony

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