Ky Ebright facts for kids
Carroll M. "Ky" Ebright (born March 20, 1894 – died November 25, 1979) was a very famous coach for the rowing team at the University of California, Berkeley. He is known for leading his teams to win many big championships, including three Olympic gold medals.
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Early Life and College Years
Ky Ebright was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the only child of Frank Randall Ebright and Charlotte M. Bassage Ebright. He went to Broadway High School in Seattle, Washington.
Later, he attended the University of Washington. While there, he was a coxswain for the rowing team. A coxswain is the person who steers the boat and helps the rowers stay in sync. He earned a special award, called a varsity letter, for his rowing in 1916 and 1917.
During World War I, Ky Ebright served as a flying instructor.
Coaching Career Highlights
After finishing college, Ebright stayed at the University of Washington as an assistant coach until 1923. In the fall of 1923, he became the head coach for the rowing team at Berkeley. He made sure he could return to his old job at Washington if the new one did not work out.
Ky Ebright holds a special record. He is the only coach to lead three different eight-oared rowing teams to win gold medals at the Olympic Games. He coached the Cal Men's crew from 1924 all the way through 1959.
During his time as coach, the Cal Bears men's varsity 8 (a boat with eight rowers) won many important events:
Olympic Gold Medals
- 1928 Summer Olympics – Gold Medal
- 1932 Summer Olympics – Gold Medal
- 1948 Summer Olympics – Gold Medal
National Championships (IRA)
The Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships are a big national competition for college rowing. Ky Ebright's teams won this title many times:
- 1928
- 1932
- 1934
- 1935
- 1939
- 1949
In 1956, Ky Ebright was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the United States Rowing Hall of Fame. Also, four of the varsity boats he coached were also added to the Hall of Fame:
- 1928 University of California Eight
- 1932 University of California Eight
- 1939 University of California Eight
- 1948 University of California Eight
Personal Life and Legacy
Ky Ebright was known for being small in size, which was perfect for a coxswain. His friends affectionately called him "The Little Admiral." He married Kathryn Doty Gruber Ebright. Their families were neighbors and friends. They had two children, a son named Malcolm and a daughter named Margaret.
Ky Ebright passed away on November 25, 1979, at the age of 85. He died at his family home near East Lake Sammamish, Redmond, Washington. He was buried in Claquato Cemetery in Chehalis, Lewis County, Washington.
In 1996, Gregory Peck, a famous actor who was once one of Ebright's students, donated $25,000 to the rowing team. He did this to honor his former coach.
