160:(June 13, 1938 – December 30, 2020) was an American swim coach for the AAU Central Jersey Aquatic Club, coaching the team from 1961 to 1988, and leading them to an AAU National Championship in 1976. Palmer's Shore Aquatic Club which he founded in 1961, became known as the Central Jersey Aquatic Club around 1972 when it merged with Rutger's swimming coach Frank Elm's Scarlet Jets, an AAU team. During his long coaching career which included coaching the Durango Masters after 1996, Palmer coached several American Olympic swimmers including 1968 Olympic team alternate Cathy Corcione, as well as 1976 Olympians Kathy Heddy, and gold medalist Wendy Boglioli. South African swimmer Jonty Skinner trained with Palmer at the Central Jersey Aquatic Club before becoming a world record holder in the 100-meter freestyle at the Senior AAU Nationals in Philadelphia in August, 1976.
287:
High School, Corcione qualified for the 1968 Mexico City
Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle event as an alternate, but did not get the opportunity to swim in Mexico City due to an overabundance of talent that year. Susan Halfacre, a 1972 Olympic Trial swimmer, swam for the University of Florida and for Palmer as well. Ken Winfield was another outstanding swimmer for Palmer, who attended both the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Trials, swam for Red Bank High School, and Michigan State, and was ranked eighth in the world in the 200 butterfly, but did not swim in the Olympics. Another outstanding swimmer for the Central Jersey Aquatic Club was Judy Melick, who participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics, but may have swum primarily under Central Jersey Aquatic Club Coach Frank Elm before his club was combined with Palmer's Shore Aquatic Club.
275:, who swam for Central Jersey Aquatic Club under Palmer in 1976, set a World Record at the U.S. Senior National Championships in Philadelphia on August 14, 1976, of 49.44 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle twenty days after the 1976 Montreal Olympics, breaking Olympian gold medalist Jim Montgomery's newly set record of 49.99 seconds in the event. In the Summer of 1979, Skinner served as an assistant coach at Central Jersey Athletic Club, working under Palmer, who had been a former mentor and coach. Skinner would pursue a coaching career at the University of Alabama and with USA Swimming. Corinna Weinkofsky, who took over coaching the Central Jersey Aquatic Club when Palmer left in 1988, also swam for the club under Palmer, and was a seven-time state High School champion and a four-time All American at Arizona State.
239:, and in the summer met at an outdoor pool at Sea Bright, New Jersey. Coach Palmer noted that the team suffered from a lack of swimming facilities in their area. Palmer led the Shore Aquatic Club team then known as the Central Jersey Aquatic Club in August, 1976 to an excellent showing in the National Championship of the American Athletic Union in both the senior women's and the combined categories for men and women. The CJAC women's team placed second nationally and the combined men and women's team placed fourth.
213:, in late July 1959. In June 1960, as coach of Driftwood Swim Club, Palmer attended the National Indoor Championship at Yale University. In August 1962, Palmer's Driftwood Beach Club Swimming Team soundly won the Quadrangular swimming meet championship at the Surfrider Beach Club for the third straight year, winning 12 of 20 individual events and taking seven of eight relay races. In 1963, Palmer's Driftwood team had eight of ten of the local newspaper
228:
combined with the
Scarlet Jets Club, coached by Frank Elms of Rutgers University, and Palmer continued coaching the new club to be known as Central Jersey Aquatic Club through 1988. For a number of years through the mid-1970's, the team still met in the summers at the Driftwood Beach Club, depending on pool availability. In 1968, and again in 1976, Central Jersey Aquatic Club's Coach Frank Elms served as an Olympic coach.
252:
279:
201:
269:
programs, had three
Olympic team members, but as many as twelve who qualified for the Olympic trials from 1968 through 1980. An early swimmer with the Shore Aquatic Club under Palmer was John Clews, who swam for Red Bank High School and qualified for the State Finals in 1973, taking a second place in the 200-yard freestyle.
286:
Cathy
Corcione, who swam for Princeton, was the Shore Swimming Club's first Olympian under Palmer in 1968, ranking first in the world in the 100 freestyle, fifth in the 200 IM, and second in the 200 backstroke, an event in which she broke the American record. As a 15-year old Junior at Long Branch
268:
at
Central Jersey Aquatic Club, would also swim in the 1976 Olympics, and though she did not become an Olympic medalist, she would break the World Record in the 800-meter Long Course freestyle relay in 1976. In total, Central Jersey Aquatic Club, under Palmer as Head Coach including its two prior
227:
He began coaching swimming for his more memorable team, New Jersey's Shore
Aquatic Club in 1961 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. A regional power, by 1963 the Shore Aquatic Club was unofficially ranked second among age group clubs in New Jersey behind the Summit YMCA team. In the 1970s the team
407:. "He was born in West Long Branch, where he still lives. He was graduated from (Long Branch High School in ',1955. He played guard on the i football team the first two years; but shifted to track as a shot putter his senior year. He attended Fishburne Military Academy of Virginia in 1955-56."
242:
In 1988, Palmer sold the club, and two outstanding New Jersey Shore
Aquatic Club former swimmers, Corinna Weinkofsky and Cathy Corcione took over as coaches. Palmer moved to Durango, Colorado in 1996, and began coaching the Durango Masters Swim Team.
208:
One of Palmer's earliest swim coaching assignments after graduating from
Monmouth University, was his Driftwood by the Sea Swimming Team which won the Shore Junior Championships against eight other clubs at Driftwood Beach Club on the Jersey Shore in
259:
The most outstanding swimmer on Palmer's 1976 Central Jersey
Aquatic Club team was Wendy Boglioli, who at the 1976 Montreal Olympics captured a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay and won a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly.
27:
706:
298:
Bill was honored as a Coach of the Year by United States
Masters Swimming, both with his Central Jersey Aquatic Club team in New Jersey, and his Durango Masters team in Colorado.
701:
301:
Palmer died on December 30, 2020, in Durango, Colorado. He was survived by his wife, Mary Anne Nelson, four children, three girls and a boy, and four grandchildren.
185:
231:
In 1972, Palmer's Shore Aquatic Club, having already become known as the Central Jersey Aquatic Club, and considered a top New Jersey program, met at the
290:
Bill's athletic pursuits included biking, skiing, and triathlons. He participated in nearly 200 triathlons, which included the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.
686:
676:
691:
651:
424:
696:
681:
578:
394:
169:
47:
646:
327:
215:
177:
181:
173:
236:
210:
671:
666:
189:
73:
551:
462:
399:
356:
63:
172:, to Hazel and Francis Palmer. He participated in prep football and track, graduating from
525:
219:
All Star Swim team members which included future stars Cathy Corcione and Sue Halfacre.
404:
265:
251:
660:
272:
232:
278:
582:
200:
261:
81:
26:
647:
Swimswam magazine, Bill Palmer, Founder of Central Jersey Aquatic Club Dies
184:, where he worked between swimming assignments. In college he went to the
328:"Braden, Keith, Bill Palmer, Founder of Central Jersey Aquatic Club Dies"
448:"Driftwood Swimmers Cop Junior Meet with 116 Points,"The Daily Register
629:
Denman, Elliott, "Alternate Cathy Corcione Losing Swimming Chances",
475:
Ogle, John, "All Star Swim Team Chosen; Versatility is Key Factor",
277:
250:
199:
192:, where several of his future New Jersey swimmers would compete.
180:
in Waynesboro, Virginia. His parents operated Marpal Disposal in
603:
Denman, Elliott, "Jonty Skinner, He's Keeping in the Swing",
549:
Fremon Suzanne S., "Competitive Swimmers Lacking Pool",
581:. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from
564:
Falk, John, "Clews, 3-Sport Star-In Single Season!",
395:"Shore Aquatic Club Coach Palmer May Go to Olympics"
384:, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 28 November 1999, pg. 131
479:, Long Branch, New Jersey, 4 September 1963, pg. 15
135:
123:
118:
106:
96:
88:
79:
69:
53:
41:
36:
707:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
492:, Long Branch, New Jersey, 31 August 1963, pg. 11
360:, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 19 August 1988, pg. 47
607:, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 17 June 1979, pg. 97
466:, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 14 June 1960, pg. 28
403:, March 14, 1971. Accessed April 21, 2024, via
616:Sadler, Ruth, "Skinner's Aim a World Record",
504:Denman, Elliott, "Central Jersey Exuberance",
579:"International Swimming Hall of Fame profile"
568:, Red Bank, New Jersey, 30 March 1973, pg. 40
450:, Red Bank, New Jersey, 6 August 1959, pg. 43
8:
633:, Asbury, New Jersey, 13 October 1968, pg. 1
620:, Camden, New Jersey, 16 August 1976, pg. 24
555:, New York, New York, 12 March 1972, pg. 106
508:, Asbury, New Jersey, 16 August 1976, pg. 17
488:Ogle, John, "Shore Splashes, A New Season",
282:Olympic team alternate Cathy Corcione in '68
19:
186:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
25:
18:
500:
498:
702:People from West Long Branch, New Jersey
652:Durango Herald, William Palmer, Obituary
376:
374:
372:
370:
368:
366:
310:
520:
518:
516:
514:
460:Steadmen, Dick, "Junior Senior Meet",
419:
417:
415:
413:
526:"Central Jersey Aquatic Club History"
350:
348:
168:Palmer was born on June 13, 1938, in
7:
322:
320:
318:
316:
314:
14:
16:American swim coach (1908 – 1971)
687:Fishburne Military School alumni
143:(United States Masters Swimming)
677:20th-century American sportsmen
188:for a year, but graduated from
692:Long Branch High School alumni
176:in 1955 and then attended the
129:1976 AAU National Championship
1:
131:(Central Jersey Aquatic Club)
530:centraljerseyaquaticclub.com
170:West Long Branch, New Jersey
48:West Long Branch, New Jersey
223:Central Jersey Aquatic Club
102:Formerly Shore Aquatic Club
100:Central Jersey Aquatic Club
723:
697:Monmouth University alumni
425:"William Palmer, Obituary"
119:Accomplishments and honors
682:American swimming coaches
429:Durango Herald Obituaries
380:"Pooling Their Talents",
178:Fishburne Military School
151:
147:
140:
128:
114:
110:Durango Masters Swim Team
24:
182:Tinton Falls, New Jersey
174:Long Branch High School
283:
256:
237:Hightstown, New Jersey
211:Sea Bright, New Jersey
205:
31:Palmer in August, 1976
281:
254:
203:
247:Outstanding swimmers
37:Biographical details
190:Monmouth University
74:Monmouth University
21:
566:The Daily Register
552:The New York Times
284:
257:
206:
141:Coach of the Year
92:Shore Aquatic Club
631:Asbury Park Press
605:Asbury Park Press
506:Asbury Park Press
463:Asbury Park Press
400:Asbury Park Press
382:Asbury Park Press
357:Asbury Park Press
196:Coaching swimming
155:
154:
80:Coaching career (
64:Durango, Colorado
57:December 30, 2020
714:
634:
627:
621:
614:
608:
601:
595:
594:
592:
590:
575:
569:
562:
556:
547:
541:
540:
538:
536:
522:
509:
502:
493:
490:The Daily Record
486:
480:
477:The Daily Record
473:
467:
458:
452:
446:
440:
439:
437:
435:
421:
408:
391:
385:
378:
361:
352:
343:
342:
340:
338:
324:
264:, who swam with
60:
29:
22:
722:
721:
717:
716:
715:
713:
712:
711:
657:
656:
643:
638:
637:
628:
624:
615:
611:
602:
598:
588:
586:
585:on 29 July 2014
577:
576:
572:
563:
559:
548:
544:
534:
532:
524:
523:
512:
503:
496:
487:
483:
474:
470:
459:
455:
447:
443:
433:
431:
423:
422:
411:
393:Sullivan, Jim.
392:
388:
379:
364:
353:
346:
336:
334:
326:
325:
312:
307:
296:
249:
225:
198:
166:
142:
130:
101:
70:Alma mater
62:
58:
46:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
720:
718:
710:
709:
704:
699:
694:
689:
684:
679:
674:
669:
659:
658:
655:
654:
649:
642:
641:External links
639:
636:
635:
622:
609:
596:
570:
557:
542:
510:
494:
481:
468:
453:
441:
409:
405:Newspapers.com
386:
362:
344:
309:
308:
306:
303:
295:
292:
266:Wendy Boglioli
255:Wendy Boglioli
248:
245:
224:
221:
216:Daily Record's
204:Palmer in 1960
197:
194:
165:
162:
153:
152:
149:
148:
145:
144:
138:
137:
133:
132:
126:
125:
121:
120:
116:
115:
112:
111:
108:
104:
103:
98:
94:
93:
90:
86:
85:
77:
76:
71:
67:
66:
61:(aged 82)
55:
51:
50:
43:
39:
38:
34:
33:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
719:
708:
705:
703:
700:
698:
695:
693:
690:
688:
685:
683:
680:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
664:
662:
653:
650:
648:
645:
644:
640:
632:
626:
623:
619:
613:
610:
606:
600:
597:
584:
580:
574:
571:
567:
561:
558:
554:
553:
546:
543:
531:
527:
521:
519:
517:
515:
511:
507:
501:
499:
495:
491:
485:
482:
478:
472:
469:
465:
464:
457:
454:
451:
445:
442:
430:
426:
420:
418:
416:
414:
410:
406:
402:
401:
396:
390:
387:
383:
377:
375:
373:
371:
369:
367:
363:
359:
358:
351:
349:
345:
333:
329:
323:
321:
319:
317:
315:
311:
304:
302:
299:
293:
291:
288:
280:
276:
274:
273:Jonty Skinner
270:
267:
263:
253:
246:
244:
240:
238:
234:
233:Peddie School
229:
222:
220:
218:
217:
212:
202:
195:
193:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
163:
161:
159:
150:
146:
139:
134:
127:
124:Championships
122:
117:
113:
109:
105:
99:
95:
91:
87:
84:unless noted)
83:
78:
75:
72:
68:
65:
56:
52:
49:
45:June 13, 1938
44:
40:
35:
28:
23:
630:
625:
618:Courier Post
617:
612:
604:
599:
587:. Retrieved
583:the original
573:
565:
560:
550:
545:
533:. Retrieved
529:
505:
489:
484:
476:
471:
461:
456:
449:
444:
432:. Retrieved
428:
398:
389:
381:
355:
354:"Boglioli",
335:. Retrieved
331:
300:
297:
289:
285:
271:
258:
241:
230:
226:
214:
207:
167:
157:
156:
59:(2020-12-30)
672:2020 deaths
667:1938 births
535:19 November
434:19 November
337:19 November
262:Kathy Heddy
158:Bill Palmer
20:Bill Palmer
661:Categories
305:References
164:Education
97:1970–1988
332:swimswam
235:pool in
589:4 April
294:Honors
136:Awards
107:1996-
591:2007
537:2021
436:2021
339:2021
89:1961
54:Died
42:Born
663::
528:.
513:^
497:^
427:.
412:^
397:,
365:^
347:^
330:.
313:^
82:HC
593:.
539:.
438:.
341:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
