E. Schaeffer

Called “midget” because of his small stature, Schaeffer swam his way back from polio and weighed a scant 118 pounds when he began his brilliant swimming career in college. He was Berks County’s first great college swimmer, setting all 37 of his American and five world records while attending the University of Pennsylvania. He held every American record from 20 yards to one mile while in college (1898-1902). University of Pennsylvania swimming coach George Kistler said of Schaeffer’s phenomenal feats in the swimming pool, “Schaeffer never had to extend himself in the middle-distance events, so I never did find out just how fast he could swim.” Kistler, a world mile champion himself, took Schaeffer under his wing and gave him special instruction. Within two weeks, Schaeffer could “double lap” his tutor and could swim the 100-yard dash in 62-½ seconds; two seconds better than the existing world record. Besides being a speed swimmer, he held the American record for swimming underwater (232'11") and was a diving champion, an accomplished cyclist, boxer and water polo player. During the Philadelphia Sportsmen’s Show (1899), Schaeffer participated in a mammoth swim meet and put on an unprecedented performance, winning 13 first places over three consecutive nights. The Philadelphia and New York papers were full of statements to the effect that Schaeffer would be sent to England to compete in the Olympic Games, but no financing for Schaeffer’s trip to England was ever secured (1900). He won the Canadian championship (1899) in the Ottawa River and won National AAU championships from 100 yards to one mile, retiring undefeated after college graduation (1902). Two years after his retirement, during a European trip, he defeated both the French and English champions in match challenge races (1904). Schaeffer’s world record for 100 yards straightaway (1:05.3) stood for 17 years. His open water mile time was 28:37.6 and his 220 time was 2:37.4. Other world marks included 1:02.6 for 100 yards (indoors), 2:29 for 200 yards, 6:18.2 for 440 yards and 36.5 for the 50-yard backstroke. Schaeffer went on to become a very successful Reading attorney.

Deceased