Iris Cummings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Iris Cummings
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Cummings c. 1944
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| Born | December 21, 1920 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | January 24, 2025 (aged 104) Claremont, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Iris Cummings Critchell |
| Occupation | Competitive swimmer, aviator |
| Known for | Last surviving participant of the 1936 Summer Olympics, co-founder and director of Bates Aeronautics Program at Harvey Mudd College |
| Height | 5 ft 4.5 in (164 cm) |
| Spouse(s) |
Howard Critchell
(m. 1944; died 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
Iris Cummings (December 21, 1920 – January 24, 2025), also known as Iris Critchell, was an amazing American aviator and swimmer. She represented the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Iris was a national champion in swimming for several years. Later, she became a pilot and served her country during World War II. She was part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). After the war, she helped create and teach a special aviation program at Harvey Mudd College. She was also recognized with many awards for her work in aviation.
Early Life and Swimming Career
Iris Cummings was born in Los Angeles on December 21, 1920. She went to Redondo Union High School. Her father was a doctor and also coached sports. Her mother taught Greek and Latin.
Iris watched the 1932 Summer Olympics when she was young. This inspired her to start swimming competitively the next year. She won many local and regional swimming events. When it was too cold to swim, she stayed active by cycling.
In 1934, Iris joined the Los Angeles Athletic Club. She won the American national 200-meter breaststroke championship in 1936. This win helped her get chosen for the U.S. team for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. She had to raise her own money to travel to the Games. This meant she spent a lot of time collecting funds instead of training.
At the Olympics, she competed in the women's 200-meter breaststroke. She was eliminated in the first round. Even so, she remained the national champion in her event until 1939. She retired from competitive swimming shortly after, earning a degree in physical sciences and math in 1941.
Flying During World War II
In 1939, Iris Cummings was one of the first people accepted into the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the University of Southern California. She completed an advanced flying course. She earned her pilot's license in 1940. By the time she graduated in 1941, she had enough training to become a flight instructor.
After teaching pilots for the Navy, Iris joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) in December 1942. This group later became part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in August 1943. She served during World War II until the WASP program ended in December 1944.
As a WASP, Iris flew military aircraft. These included fast planes like the P-38, the P-51, and the P-61. She flew these planes to different bases where they were needed. After her service, she married Howard Critchell, a military pilot. They had two children and were married for over 70 years.
Later Life and Achievements
After the war, Iris returned to the University of Southern California. She helped create and teach a new program about civilian aviation for veterans. She continued to be a flight instructor. She also helped develop training programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Iris also loved racing airplanes. In 1957, she won the All Woman Transcontinental Air Race. She won the top prize of $800.
In 1962, she joined Harvey Mudd College. There, she and her husband started the Bates Aeronautics Program. They ran the program together until her husband retired in 1979. Iris continued to lead the program alone until it ended in 1990. She kept teaching aviation classes until 1996. Some of her students became astronauts, like George Nelson and Stanley G. Love.
Iris was also an FAA Pilot Examiner for more than 20 years. This meant she tested new pilots to make sure they were safe to fly. In 1972, she was named the Flight Instructor of the Year for her area.
In 2000, Iris was inducted into the National Flight Instructors Hall of Fame. She received the Federal Aviation Administration's Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2006. This award recognized her dedication to airplane safety. In 2007, she received the Nile Gold Medal for her lifelong work in aviation education.
Even after officially retiring, Iris remained active. She lectured, consulted, and helped manage the Aeronautical Library Special Collections at Harvey Mudd College. She was also a member of the Ninety-Nines, an organization that supports women pilots.
Iris Cummings passed away on January 24, 2025, at the age of 104. At the time of her death, she was the last known person still alive who had participated in the 1936 Olympics.
