Richard Kitchell

Few athletes in the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame can say they have spent more than 70 years in their sport, but 1958 Kokomo High School graduate Richard Kitchell can.

Kitchell began swimming at the Kokomo YMCA under the tutelage of hall of fame coach Mal Cofield at age 11. After winning several AAU age-level titles, he captured the National Y Men’s Division 200 butterfly championship in 1957.

His accomplishments caught the eye of legendary Indiana University coach James “Doc” Counsilman, who recruited Kitchell to the IU men’s swim team. Kitchell lettered in 1960, ‘61, and ‘62, helping the Hoosiers win three Big Ten titles. He was ranked ninth in the world in the 200 butterfly by Swimmers World Magazine and was named an All-American in 1960 as the Hoosiers finished third in the NCAA championships. Kitchell also placed seventh in the 200 at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The now retired dentist continued his swim career in the U.S. Masters Swimming organization, where he had the nation’s best times in his age group on 14 occasions as an individual and five times as a member of relay teams from 2002-2012. In 2004, he set a world record in the 200 butterfly for his age group and was ranked in the top 10 in the world in 2002, ‘05, and ‘10.