Nov. 1, 2016 Huntington Beach, CA - November 1 - The late Dr. Barbara Kalbus was recognized over the weekend with the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Paragon Award. Kalbus was honored for, among other things, her extraordinary volunteer efforts in the sport of water polo. The award was accepted on her behalf by Andy Burke. Below is the introduction for Kalbus from Bruce Wigo prior to the award presentation.
"Volunteers are the unsung heroes of our sports and without exception the most dedicated volunteer I have ever met was Dr. Barbara Kalbus," said ISHOF President, Bruce Wigo. "When we selected her for this year's award, it was long overdue and regretfully, she cannot be with us, as she passed away a few months ago. Barbara started as a swim mom and threw herself into the volunteer path. She became president of the Long Beach Phillips 66 swim club. When her sons became interested in water polo, that became her interest. When her children left home, I am qualified, by working with her for many years, to say that water polo became the most important thing in her life. I don't believe she had any other hobbies or interests, particularly after she retired as vice president of Long Beach City College. She was an amazing, remarkable and intelligent woman who uniquely, rose to become president of USA Water Polo in the 1980s. Have you heard of any other woman to become president of what was then a predominately male sport?"
Kalbus passed away on June 3, 2016.
