The current achievements of Boston University crew simply would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of James "Jim"Â Conlan.
Recognized as the "Father of Boston University Crew," Conlan founded the Boston University Independents in 1937, as crew was not yet a varsity sport at the university.
The Independents enjoyed tremendous success. After a winning season in 1938, crew was elevated to varsity status for the 1939 campaign. Fittingly, Conlan was elected captain of the crew.
After earning a varsity letter in 1939, Conlan was again elected to captain the crew in 1940 along with fellow senior Burton Carr.
While the athletic accomplishments of those early crews may be overlooked, the dedication of Conlan command attention. He recruited the rowers, found a coach, borrowed equipment, raised money and even built a boat house. Through Conlan's drive and inspiration, the crew program was assembled from scratch and gained enough prominence to become a varsity sport.
A 1940 graduate of the University's College of Fine Arts, Conlan kept a watchful eye on the crew after leaving BU, and was a major donor and inspiration for the athletes.
