Alfred Kirkland Canterbury, Jr., who went by Kirk, was a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1960, and as the class motto, Nulli Secundus, means, he was truly Second to None.

After graduation, "Captain Kirk" continued to fly C-130s for the U.S. Air Force, and at one point, was stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador in Canada where he met and later married Mildred Ann Kurkoski. Unfortunately, I do not know much about his Air Force career other than the odd story about flying supplies into Cambodia, and how he loved landing at U.S. Naval bases as he said, "All those guys thought that he was a naval Captain and they would roll out the red carpet" for him. What he was more known for was his swimming.

He actually swam for the U.S. Air Force Academy and it was a matter of great pride for me to actually see him in his team picture on the wall of the natatorium when I was out there during my own swimming career. It was also a great surprise to me to find that he actually held the pool record in the old pool at Southern Illinois University where I finished my collegiate swimming career. Since that pool is no longer used for competitions, he will forever hold the pool record in that pool for the men's 200-yard backstroke.

In 1971, United States Masters Swimming was started in which Kirk was one of the pioneers. During the following years from 1975 through 2001, Captain Kirk amassed 179 Top Ten national rankings, including 24 #3 rankings, 30 #2 rankings, and 20 #1 rankings. Between the years of 1986 through 1989, he also amassed 12 Top 5 World Rankings in long course meters including 5 #1 rankings, and 11 Top 10 World Rankings in short course meters including 3 #1 rankings. In 1976, he set 2 National Records in the Men's 40-44 400 Meter I.M. and the Men's 40-44 200 Yard Fly and in both 1986 and 1987, he set National Records in the Men's 50- 54 800 Meter Free. Finally, his top accomplishment came in 1987 when he set a World Record in the Men's 50-54 800 Meter Free! Captain Kirk also coached swimming as well.

While coaching for a U.S. Swimming team from Gastonia, N.C. he coached numerous kids to national prominence. And after having both his knees replaced (at the same time because he didn't want to have the additional time out of the water by having them done one at a time), he devoted most of his time coaching the Masters swim team at MAC in Charlotte, N.C. where he not only taught numerous adults the joy of swimming, but also coached several adults to their own national and world rankings and records!

After making remarkable recoveries from several strokes, Alfred Kirkland Canterbury finally succumbed to the last stroke on April 23. 2013. He is survived by his wife, Millie, and his two sons, Mark and John David. "Kirk" Canterbury 93 Jack W. Bright, '61 David L. Wiest, '60 Karl McMaster Jones, Jr., '60 Captain Kirk was truly Second to None!

(Mark Kirkland Canterbury, Kirk's eldest son)