| Ron Syria has been a tremendous
help to the Oakland University mens and womens 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.
OUs 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. |