We the undersigned support Dr. John Welch's election to the NMSU Athletic Hall of Fame for the following reasons:

• He founded the NMSU Men Varsity Swimming Program in 1964 and served as Head Coach until 1979.
• He was a co-organizer of the Inter-Mountain Swimming League (Colorado, NM, West Texas universities)
• His teams dominated the League by either winning five championships and placing second at the championships
  • In 1976 the men's team won all 17 swimming events and set 11 conference records.
  • Inter-Mountain Swimming League Coach of Year, 1979.
• The NM Legislature recognized his coaching and academic contributions by Memorial in 1978
• He served as head coach of the team until 1979 when he became Academic Department Head and Professor in the Physical Education Department
• He helped establish the NMSU's Women's Varsity Swimming Program in 1972 and authored, "A Cooperative Approach to Woman's and Men's Athletics" at a time when women's sports were struggling for equality.
• He taught anatomy and bio-mechanics and served as Academic Head of NMSU's Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Program (1986-1990)
• He chaired the NMSU Outdoor Pool Construction Committee (1970-1972)
• He established the University Swim School (1975) - a popular on-going program that taught thousands how to swim".
• He served three years in the U.S. Navy as an officer on the USS Ticoneroga
• He directed the swimming program for Peace Corps Latin American group.
• During his academic career, Dr Welch conducted research on athlete safety. He published a study recommending an increase in pool depth that was adopted by the NCAA.
• Dr Welch was the chair of the New Mexico Swimming's safety committee (1987-1997) and worked tirelessly for athlete safety. His work was recognized with a service award in 1997.
• New Mexico Senior Olympics recognized him for his contributions (both as an athlete and as the state swimming competition organizer) by naming him "Golden Athlete of Year in 2001.

For his outstanding contributions to NMSU and the Athletics Department, we, the undersigned, enthusiastically endorse the appointment of Dr. John Welch to NMSU Athletic Hall of Fame.