Dr. Alan Somers is one of Indiana swimming's most decorated athletes and one of the program's most generous supporters. Somers began his illustrious career at Indiana in the early 1960s, and his legacy of greatness lives on today. While at Indiana, Somers was a Big Ten Champion in 1961 and 1962 in the 1500-meter freestyle and again in 1963 in the 1650-meter freestyle. Somers, who excelled in almost every freestyle event while at Indiana, was an eight-time All-American.
In addition to an impressive career as a Hoosier swimmer, Somers also participated in IU's Little 500 on the Phi Kappa Psi team. Somers, who is a neurologist in Bloomington, holds two prestigious degrees from the University.
Several years ago, Somers and other former swimmers and divers embarked on a campaign to raise $5 million to fully endow the 9.9 scholarships awarded in men's swimming and diving to ensure the growth and future success of the nationally adorned programs. As the need arose to endow almost 10 men's swimming and diving scholarships, Somers and his wife, fellow Indiana graduate Kitch, recently established a named scholarship in honor of Marge Counsilman, the matriarch of Indiana swimming. Through the "Matching the promise" campaign on the IU Bloomington campus, the Somers were able to double the impact of their gift. Additionally, Somers serves on the steering committee of the swimming endowment and is key in the fundraising efforts for his former collegiate program.
Giving back to a program that has provided so many of Indiana's student-athletes with life-time memories and friendships is Somers' motivation.
"It provided me with many of the most important and long lasting friendships," Somers said. "A sense of diligence, loyalty, discipline, intellectual rigor and the importance of long-term goals were deeply imbedded in the four years spent at Indiana University. These are things that I have carried with me to this day."
