 | Experience:
1992 Inductee
|
| Award:
Service Award
|
|
Ron Syria has been a tremendous help to the Oakland University men's and women's swimming and diving teams over the past number of years. He has donated his time and equipment to help the OU programs.
Through Incomar, Ron has often allowed the Oakland Swimming programs use of his equipment, such as when the Pioneers hosted the GLIAC Swimming Championships last February. His expertise and computerized scoreboards kept the fans updated on the score of the meet as it went on. That is an example of the work Ron routinely provides for Oakland. He is always around meets, setting up and updating equipment and making sure things run well.
OU's pool timing system is an Incomar system, designed and installed by Ron, mostly as a gift to Oakland University. His system is considered the best in swimming.
Ron has an outstanding background in diving. He was a diver at Michigan State University. He also served as diving coach at his alma mater, Wayne State, from 1970-75, and at Oakland in 1976-77. He coached six All-Americans and a national champion during that time. He was a four-time United States Masters diving champion as well as a state and Midwest diving champion.
An inventor, Ron holds patents on anti-lock braking systems, various machine tools, and pacing timers for jogging. He designed and built computerized scoring and display systems for figure skating that were used in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. He was an Olympic consultant in 1984 and 1988. He also provides the official timing equipment for all U.S. national speed roller skating events.
Ron and his wife, Margo, live in Utica. They have two children, Kim and Lauri; and one grandchild, Laura.
