Rowing scull named for woman's brother

Staff Report

August 09, 2008 04:00 am

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ONEONTA _ This year's Olympics will have a personal connection for Elizabeth Robinson of Oneonta.

A USRowing women's double scull in use at the Beijing Olympics has been named after her older brother, Robert ``Bob'' Walton, of Ohio, who was a USRowing referee.

He died May 2 at age 63 after a massive heart attack.

Robinson said she was notified recently through e-mail that Glenn Merry, USRowing executive director, decided to name the boat in Walton's memory. Merry said Walton was ``a great spirit and friend'' to USRowing.

``It's an incredible way for him to be honored,'' Robinson said Friday. ``It was fabulous.''

Robinson said the boat will be used in a race in lane four at 4:40 p.m. China time, and she will set recording equipment to capture the event.

She said the rowers will be Ellen Tomek of Michigan and Megan Kalmoe of Wisconsin.

In 1993, Walton passed the international referee examination, according to a biography, and at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, he was part of the rowing support staff.

Walton became chief referee at various regional regattas, and he developed a referee manual that is in final editing for USRowing.