Dick LaHair was a graduate of the High School of Commerce in Worcester. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War (1951-1955), having graduated from the United States Naval Radio and Communications School. He was also a graduate of the American Red Cross National Aquatic School.
During his thirty-five years of service in water safety and aquatics, Dick was a swimming instructor at the Lincoln Square Boys & Girls Club (1955-1991). In addition, he taught swimming to children in the Worcester Public School System and Worcester Vocational High School, teaching elementary, junior high and high school students. He coached for the Boys & Girls Club, Assumption College, and Worcester Vocational High School, leading his swimmers to such recognition as Worcester City Champions, Worcester County Champions and All Stars, New England Boys Club Championships, Massachusetts State Championships, New England A.A.A.U. Junior and Senior Champions, National Junior Champions, and the American Olympic Men and Women’s Swimming Qualifiers.
Dick was a member of the New England A.A.A.U. Board of Managers, the New England Boys Clubs Swimming Committee, the American Swimming Coaches Association, the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and the New England Swimming Coaches and Officials Association. Dick served as president, as vice president, and as treasurer for both the Worcester County Swimming League and the New England Boys Clubs Swimming League. He was director of the New England A.A.A.U. Swimming Officials Schools of Worcester and Worcester CountyHe was also the Aquatic Merit Badge Counselor for the Mohegan Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Dick created the Worcester Boys Club Suburban Learn to Swim Program as well as the Lincoln Square Guppy Learn to Swim Program. The Worcester Chapter of the American Red Cross presented Dick with a certificate of appreciation for over twenty years of service in water safety and aquatics. In November 1960, the American Red Cross presented Richard LaHair with their Humanitarian Medal and Certificate of Appreciation.
Clearly, Dick LaHair devoted the greatest portion of his life to aquatics, to kids, and to the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester.