Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Evans was a marathon man before his time. While his Farallon Islands swim in 1967 was celebrated, recognized and well-documented (see video below), it has taken decades to unearth documentation of his Catalina Channel crossing of August 26th, 1959.

Like his 13 hour 55 minute swim from the Farallon Islands to the California mainland, Evans’ had a struggle across the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the outskirts of Los Angeles. 20 hours 55 minutes after his start, the famed marathoner climbed onshore.

After documentation was confirmed by the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation (a congratulatory letter from his commanding officer) and his 1959 swim recognized formally by the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation, his surviving daughters Michelle Evans-Chase and Becky Evans along with son-in-law Bruckner Chase were invited to the annual Catalina Channel Swimming Federation banquet in November to receive a medal and finisher’s certificate. “We are all really grateful that the Federation wanted to recognize his swim.”

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source

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Steven Munatones

Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference.  He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984).  Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.

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