The George Pocock Rowing Foundation was created in 1984 by a community of leaders who were passionate about the sport of rowing & the benefits it could provide.
Since its inception, the George Pocock Rowing Foundation has leveraged school and community partnerships to create an innovative network of youth program opportunities, improving access to rowing and empowering students to make healthier lifestyle choices.
The organization is now aligned with public school districts, parks, recreation departments, and city councils to facilitate robust youth rowing outreach efforts across the Pacific Northwest and the United States.
The Pocock family legacy is rooted in more than fast boats and rowing accomplishments.
It’s about passion, commitment, learning and community building.
George Pocock believed that rowing was a sport for all ages; he believed that learning to navigate a shell on the water could teach athletes as much about life as it did sport.
In fact, when comparing rowing with life he once said: “Harmony, balance, rhythm. There you have it. That’s what life is all about.”
The George Pocock Rowing Foundation is named in honor of this legacy, and our mission is crafted to carry that legacy forward by helping young people access and experience the life-changing sport of rowing.
Meet the Pocock Family
George Yeomans Pocock
George Pocock learned the art of boat-building from his father. After immigrating from England to the Pacific Northwest in 1911, George began building shells for the Vancouver Rowing Club and the University of Washington (UW) crew. By the early 1920s orders were coming in from multiple collegiate crews; then, by the 1950s, after Olympic crews in Pocock shells won gold in 1936, 1948 and 1952, boat-builders the world over began copying George’s designs and techniques. George was an early proponent of high school rowing programs and kept his prices low so that high schools could afford his boats.
Lucy Pocock
George’s older sister, Lucy Pocock, paved the way for women rowers and is regarded today as the Patron Saint of Women’s Rowing. In 1906, she rowed to a Mixed Double Scull Championship while fully corseted and in 1912, when she became the first Ladies Champion Sculler, she wore a newly designed rowing costume sans corset. She was the first coach for the University of Washington's women’s rowing team and fought vigorously for the continuation of the program.
Stanley R. Pocock
George Pocock’s son, Stanley, proved himself a natural in both boat-building and coaching. While apprenticing with and working for his father, Stanley coached at the University of Washington from 1947 through 1955 and coached several gold-medal winning crews in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. In the late 1960’s, management of the Pocock Racing Shells fell to Stan and he continued there until 1985, during which time he made many innovations to the racing shell, including creating the first fiberglass shell in 1961.