BARTLESVILLE SPLASH CLUB TO CELEBRATE 75 YEARS THIS WEEKEND
The Bartlesville Splash Club will celebrate 75 years this weekend with a variety of events.
Photo provided
Ken Treadway worked with Phillips 66 Recreation Director Bud Browning to start up a company swim program for children of employees in 1950,
Photo provided
By Mike Tupa
Aug. 26, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Hard to believe it’s been 75 years since a young Muskogee transplant revved up one of Bartlesville’s greatest sports traditions.
That’s exactly what Ken Treadway did in 1950 when he worked with legendary Phillips 66 Recreation Director Bud Browning to start up a company swim program for children of employees.
It was christened the Splash Club — and next weekend (Aug. 29-30) it will celebrate its 75th year of continuous training of young bodies, minds and spirits through the platform of pool competition. In addition to those outstanding objectives, the club also has served the basic function of teaching pool safety and life-saving in the water.
Multiple special events are scheduled to commemorate the historic anniversary. As an added bonus, world-famous swim announcer Rowdy Gaines will be on hand to participate in events both days.
Gaines, who has won three Olympic gold medals, is known as the “Voice of Swimming,” has been part of broadcast Olympic coverage since 1992 and as a television swimming analyst.
“He’s just a big fan of the Splash Club and of Ken Treadway,” said Chad Englehart, who is the Bartlesville Splash Club Executive Director and Bartlesville High School head swim coach, about Gaines’ participation in the celebration.
Bartlesville Splash Club Executive Director Chad Englehart coaches during the Bartlesville High School swim season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
_____
The event’s “splash”-off will begin Friday afternoon in the Phillips 66 Auditorium. Among the activities at that gathering will be a Silent Auction, a chance to buy limited supplies of Splash Club anniversary swag, memorabilia displays, light food and drinks and a chance to watch live practices. There also will be opportunities to visit with alumni and friends and to meet Gaines and take photos.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the weekend might be the Saturday (August 30) Alumni Swim Meet, set for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Phillips Aquatic Center (Adams Building).
The commemoration will wrap up Saturday at Woolaroc from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a picnic and outdoor games. A BBQ dinner is planned for 5:30 p.m. and a Splash Club alumni band known as The Hot Links will provide live music. Limited complimentary alcoholic beverages will be available.
Another part of this weekend will be to help fuel a Splash Club endowment — that will hopefully build up quickly — to help with program funding.
The specifics of how to participate are still being worked out but anyone interested for more information can contact Englehart at cenglehart@splashclub-ok.com.
“The board has been very diligent in managing money and saving money,” said Englehart, adding the purpose of the fundraising effort is “to help ensure the longevity of the team.”
Englehart has guided both the Splash Club and the Bartlesville High teams for more than a decade. His prep squads have captured seven state titles and Bartlesville boasts the current defending girls state championship team.
He treasures his time in Bartlesville.
“I’ve been happy just watching my son coming through the program,” he explained. “That was always a neat highlight, to see him graduate from Bartlesville and go on to swim in college… I’ve been happy just being a part of the community. It’s a big community within a small community.”
Although he’s received significant professional recognition — including being inducted into the Indiana High School Sports Hall of Fame for his work for many years prior to his transfer to Bartlesville —Englehart senses his greatest honor as being something more basic.
“It’s being entrusted to lead and mentor people’s kids for 38 years, just that continual trust … has been a pretty big honor.”
Englehart has carried on the trusted tradition that Treadway opened up in 1950. Treadway proceeded to set the foundation for success for Bartlesville swimming. Meanwhile, Treadway advanced in the swimming realm to its highest heights, including serving on the national and Olympic swim committees, coaching in the Olympics and being inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
He helped coach Mark Spitz and was present at the 1972 Munich Olympics when terrorists killed several members of the Jewish Olympic Team.
He’s also been inducted into the Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Splash Club that he created has helped produce numerous U.S. Olympic Swim Trials qualifiers, college All-Americans and outstanding citizens.
Members of the 1979 Bartlesville Splash Club team.
Photo provided