Columbus High School Coach, 1955 – 65
2019 James “Doc” Counsilman Award Winner
Duane Barrows graduated from Columbus High School in 1946. He went on to graduate from Franklin College in 1950 and also earned a Master’s degree from Butler University. He returned to his alma mater and was a teacher, assistant football coach and Head Coach for the Boy’s Swimming and Diving team. Under his leadership, the Columbus boys won six IHSAA team championships, two runner-up finishes, and a third-place finish. His teams won 116 dual meets with only two losses. At the IHSAA state championship meets, his swimmers and divers won 34 individual titles and 5 relay titles. He has the most state champions for all boys team coaches and has held this distinction since 1965. One of his swimmers, Claude Thompson set a National Public School Record in 1959 in the 400-yard freestyle. Seven of his former swimmers have been inducted into the Indiana High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. Duane went on to take a position as Associate Professor and Head Men’s Swimming & Diving Coach at Indiana State University from 1966- 1979. His teams had a record of 87 wins and 57 losses. Duane was also involved with younger swimmers in the state. He developed the Donner Swim Club in Columbus and started the Terre Haute Aquatic Club in 1971. Duane has received many honors. He received the Franklin College Alumni Athletic Achievement Award in 1970.in previous years, inducted into the Indiana Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 2007. He received Special Service Award from the Indiana High School Swimming Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Bull Dog Alumni (Columbus) Hall of Fame in 2016. Duane was loved by his swimmers which is evident by the words of Wayne Thompson “We loved him. He almost never lost his temper. I remember only two instances when he did, and we deserved it: missing a practice to decorate for a dance and missing our event because we were so engrossed in a card game. We were fast swimmers because he inspired us. We wanted to please him. He never swore. He never insulted or degraded us, even when our performance did not please him. He thought big. We never lost a dual meet. He focused on the Indiana state championships, which we frequently won. When a few of us stood out, he would take us to the Olympic trials. Unfortunately, none of us ever qualified although my brother Claude came close. To give us added instruction and the opportunity to swim in a 25-yard pool (in my day Columbus only had a 20-yard pool), as well as far greater exposure to the swimming big time, he maintained a close, friendly relationship with Doc Counsilman. IU was only 35 miles on a curvy road from Columbus. Doc got to know most of us. He would occasionally come to Columbus to tell us about new techniques. He was the speaker at our end-of-season awards banquet, and I remember that he spoke without notes. Like Doc, Mr. Barrows was innovative. For example, he put us on weight training when that was not what swim teams were doing at the time.” Duane passed away after a car accident in 1979 returning from a swim meet. He is survived by his wife Natalie. Duane had five children, including his step-son Bruce Beller who is accepting his award on his behalf. In 1984, a scholarship was developed in his memory, awarded to a Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation student-athlete who has demonstrated academic achievement, high character, and financial need.