Nancy Jane Ramey (born June 29, 1940), later known by her married name Nancy Lethcoe, is an American former competition swimmer, 1956 Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in two events. After the Olympics, Ramey earned her doctorate and became a college instructor, environmental activist and political candidate. She and her husband Jim Lethcoe founded Prince William Sound Books. She authored books about Prince William Sound: Valdez Gold Rush Trails of 18 98-99, History of Prince William Sound,Cruising Guide to Prince William Sound, and Habitats of Change.

Biography

Ramey was born in Seattle and grew up on Mercer Island, Washington. At time of the 1956 Olympics, she was a student at Mercer Island High School. As a 16-year-old, Ramey represented the United States at the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

in Melbourne, Australia, where she won a silver medal in the 100 meter butterfly event. In 1958 she set two world records in the 100 m and one in the 200 m butterfly; the same year she won five American and one Canadian national title. In 1959 she won a silver medal in the 100 m butterfly at the Pan American Games. Later Ramey graduated from the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...

and earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. In the 1970s she worked as an assistant professor of religious studies at

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

. After that she organized Alaskan wilderness safaris, together with her husband Jim Lethcoe.

References

External links

*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramey, Nancy 1940 births Living people American female butterfly swimmers World record setters in swimming People from Mercer Island, Washington Sportspeople from King County, Washington Swimmers from Seattle Stanford University Department of Religious Studies faculty University of Washington alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Swimmers at the 1956 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for the United States in swimming Swimmers at the 1959 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1959 Pan American Games Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in swimming 20th-century American women

Biography

See also

References

External links