Swimming steps to success

David G. Thomas has been a swimming teacher and coach since 1948, when he became a water-safety field representative for the American Red Cross. In 1955 he became swimming coach and aquatics director at Berea High School in Berea, Ohio. Eight years later he moved to the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he was director of aquatics and swimming coach until retiring as professor emeritus in 1985.

Thomas gained nationwide prominence in 1972 by producing a textbook, teaching guide, exams, and visual aids for training swimming pool operators. The Swimming Pool Operators Handbook and the other materials were published by the National Swimming Pool Institute as the basis for its Certified Pool Operators program.

Since retirement, Thomas has focused much of his attention on writing. He has published numerous articles on aquatic subjects and is a contributing author to several books on swimming pool design and operation, including Professional Aquatic Management . He is the author of Teaching Swimming: Steps to Success, Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success, Competitive Swimming Management , and the video Water Is Friendly: The First Step in Learning to Swim .

A consultant in aquatics and pool design and operation, Thomas lives with his wife, Virginia, in Anderson, South Carolina. He swims each day for fitness.