Rick White Rick was the
first African American high diver on the scene in professional high diving, but he rapidly became
a popular staple. He was a black diver who always wore a bright white
suit. With the last name """"White and working in all white sport in the
1960s, his popularity jetted to become one of the best known divers in
the business. He was Captain of the Acapulco Cliff Diving Team
for many years, a popular event featured on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
He earned numerous titles through the years, but was best known as one
of the nicest and most inspirational men the sport has ever known. He
had his share of problems and has faced tremendous adversity in his
private life. Hats off to Rick White.
The first African-American high diver learns to dive in Brooklyn, NY in the 1950s January 2009 High diving's most successful black diver, Captain of the U.S. Acapulco Cliff Diving Team in the 1970s, takes us back to when he got his start learning to dive at a local pool in Brooklyn, NY. Through trial and error, he and his multi-ethnic buddies learned to dive the hard way at the age of twelve.
1st African-American Life Guard & high diver from Brooklyn January 2009 The Acapulco cliff diver explains how he got his start in diving as a youngster in Brooklyn, NY. He also shares his perspective growing up as a black man working in a white man's profession (life guarding) and competing in a white man's sport (diving), but without the influence of racial prejudice that one might expect to be associated in that era.
Rick meets Bob, Norma & Dean Maxwell in 1962 January 2009 How the most successful black high diver in the sport's history was introduced to and recruited by Bob and Norma Maxwell into the world of professional high diving. He was discovered by Dean Maxwell at a local swimming pool in Brooklyn, NY in 1962.
Barney Cipriani & Doug Gandel January 2009 Rick shares his insight and views on early-era world record high dive attempts. Included in this interview is an apropos comment by Hobie Billingsley the U.S. Olympic Diving Coach. There are some tidbits about Target Diving and a few words about Johnny Bower's and the handstand dives.
Diving with the 'boys' Six Flags Great Adventure, NJ January 2009 The Acapulco Cliff Diving Champion shares some insight into the first years of high diving shows at the famed Great Adventure NJ. At the breakfast table with Rick White are water show legends; Olympic Diving Coach Hobie Billingsley, water show comedians Johnny Bower & John Carney, water show producer Bob Kerper.
