Bob Cowell

100-yard backstroke world record At the York YMCA Open Invitation Swimming Meet on June 12, 1948, Cowell set a world record in the 100-yard long-course backstroke on his 24th birthday with an official time of 1:00.4 at the Naval Academy pool in Annapolis, breaking the former record of 1:02. The race was supervised by Arthur Price, President of the South Atlantic AAU, and included three official timekeepers. As the 100-yard backstroke was not an Olympic event, Cowell's record may have gone somewhat less noticed. Cowell swam a two-person race against Naval Ensign Bob Tribble, who swam a close 1:01.8 for the distance, also breaking the formal record.

1948 London Olympic silver medal At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, in August, he received a silver medal for his second-place performance in the men's 100-meter backstroke, finishing with a time of 1:06.5, only one tenth of a second behind fellow American Allen Stack. Although Stack was the favorite to win the event, the final heat was much closer than expected as Cowell was on his heels throughout and even led the race at one point.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, he became a career U.S. Navy officer, initially with the rank of Ensign. During the Korean conflict in the 1950s, Cowell was decorated as a Navy flyer. In 1960, at the age of only 35, he died prematurely while driving through a curve on U.S. 29, seven miles north of Athens, Georgia as a result of a head-on car crash while driving from Jacksonville, Florida to Washington. Cowell held the rank of Lieutenant Commander at the time of the accident. His wife Eloise, and the other driver were killed and Cowell's two children were seriously injured.

Honors Cowell was made the U.S. National Swimmer of the year in 1947.