John V. Schmitt - Regatta & Olympic Champion - Biography 1
1930 Elgin Legionnaire Watch
John V. Schmitt (1901-1991)
Philadelphia Rowing Champion / Olympic Rowing Medalist
John Victor Schmitt (1901–1991) was a lifelong Philadelphian and champion amateur rower between 1925 and 1930. As a member of the Bachelors Rowing Club, his crew won the Senior Four-Oared Shell with Coxswain at the July 4, 1930 Peoples Regatta on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River. Schmitt was awarded a 14k white gold Elgin Legionnaire model watch, custom engraved, “Peoples Regatta ~ Philadelphia ~ July 4 1930 ~ Senior Four-Oared Shells ~ With Cox ~ Won By ~ John V. Schmitt”.
John Schmitt also participated in the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics. Rowing for the Pennsylvania Barge Club, he and teammate Paul McDowell won a Bronze medal for their 3rd-place finish in the Paired Oared Shell without Coxswain competition.
John was a career salesman for the John Wanamaker department store, retiring in 1966 to Florida. He and his wife Florence had three sons, one of whom – John V. Schmitt Jr. – was a two-time All American soccer player for Drexel University.
