The Boys In The Boat: Where Are They Now?

The boys in the boat went on to live long and fulfilling lives. Joe Rantz, the main subject of the film and book, worked for Boeing for 35 years after graduating from the University of Washington with a chemical engineering degree. He married his college girlfriend, Joyce, and the couple had five children. Rantz passed away in 2007 at the age of 93. Most of the boys did not fight in World War II due to their age and instead worked on designing and building aircraft for the war effort. They all survived the war years and went on to have good, solid middle-class lives.

Joe Rantz's troubled childhood

Joe Rantz, a member of the rowing team depicted in "The Boys in the Boat," had a troubled childhood marked by abandonment and hardship. His mother died from throat cancer when he was four years old, after which he was sent to live with his aunt. Three years later, in 1921, his father, Harry Rantz, remarried a woman named Thula LaFollete, who already had four children of her own.

Thula did not take a liking to Joe, despite him being well-behaved and a good student. One day, after a spat between Joe and Thula's child, Harry left his 10-year-old son at the town's schoolhouse. A teacher allowed Joe to stay there in exchange for chores, including chopping wood for the stoves. Joe learned to hunt, fish, and work odd jobs to support himself.

In 1925, Harry retrieved Joe as the family was relocating to Sequim, Washington. However, their financial troubles worsened. On a rainy day in November 1929, when Joe was 15, he returned home from school to find his father, stepmother, and half-siblings packing up the car and leaving without him. Joe was abandoned and left to care for himself during the start of the Great Depression.

For two years, Joe lived in a half-finished cabin in the woods, continuing to attend school and making money by logging timber, building fences, baling hay, and clearing tree stumps. He eventually moved in with his older brother, Fred, and his wife in Seattle, where he excelled in school and participated in sports.

Joe's determination and resilience during his troubled childhood laid the foundation for his later success as a rower and his commitment to providing a stable and positive life for his own family.

The team's journey to the Olympics

The University of Washington rowing team's journey to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin began three years before the games. The team was made up of young men from poor backgrounds, many of whom were attending university on rowing scholarships. Joe Rantz, the main character in the film, worked his way through school and suffered a difficult childhood. At 15, his father and stepmother abandoned him, forcing him to find food and shelter for himself. He put himself through school and worked hard to save money to attend the University of Washington, where he joined the rowing team.

The University of Washington rowing team's Olympic journey was also marked by illness. Don Hume, a key member of the team, fell ill on the ship to Germany, and his condition worsened as the team prepared for the races. Hume's performance in the final race, despite his illness, was critical to the team's success.

The University of Washington rowing team's journey to the Olympics was an improbable one, marked by determination, hard work, and community support. They overcame financial obstacles and illness to achieve their dream of competing on the world's biggest stage.

The University of Washington rowing team's gold medal win

The road to the Olympics began with the UW crew making history in the 1936 season, showcasing their talent and potential. The team included Bobby Moch at coxswain, Donald Hume at stroke, Joe Rantz, George "Shorty" Hunt, Jim "Stub" McMillin, Johnny White, Gordon "Gordy" Adam, Charles "Chuck" Day, and Roger Morris. Led by coach Al Ulbrickson, they became the Washington varsity eight and went on to achieve an impressive undefeated streak.

After soundly defeating the University of California in the Pacific Coast Regatta, the team headed to Poughkeepsie for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta, where they claimed the title. They then travelled to Princeton for the Olympic trials, where they secured their spot at the Olympics by winning against the top crews in the country. However, their journey was almost cut short when the American Olympic Committee informed them that they had to pay their own way, amounting to $5,000. Thanks to the support of the Seattle community, who rallied together and raised the necessary funds, the team was able to continue their quest for gold.

At the Olympic final on Langer See, the UW crew faced their biggest challenge yet. They were placed in the worst lane, exposed to strong winds and choppy waters, while their competitors from Germany and Italy had the advantage of the most protected lanes. Despite this setback, the team refused to give up. They spent the first half of the 2,000-meter race battling the elements, gradually moving up to third position. As their lane finally became protected from the wind, they dug deep and made their move, overtaking the Germans and Italians in the final 200 meters. In a thrilling finish, they surged forward and won the race by about 10 feet, securing the gold medal.

The UW rowing team's victory was not just a sporting achievement but also a symbol of hope and determination during a difficult economic period. It put the University of Washington on the map and inspired future generations of rowers. The story of "The Boys in the Boat" has been immortalized in Daniel James Brown's bestselling book and later adapted into a film directed by George Clooney, shedding light on the individual struggles and collective triumph of this extraordinary team.

The team's fundraising efforts

The University of Washington rowing team's journey to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin began three years before the games, and the team had to make some difficult decisions about funding their trip. The rowers decided to host a fundraising drive to gather the funds needed to send them overseas. Within 48 hours of learning that the US Olympic Committee couldn't afford to send them to Germany, the team had raised the $5,000 (over $111,000 today) needed for the trip. Students sold paper badges, called businesses for donations, and even received a $300 cheque (equivalent to almost $7000 in 2024) from the coach of their rival team at the University of California, Berkeley. The coach's donation was a particularly bold move given the rivalry between the two teams.

The University of Washington's rowing program didn't offer scholarships at the time, but they did have enough to pay their rowers, which was attractive to eventual team members like Rantz during the Great Depression. The team's coach, Al Ulbrickson, also played a role in their Olympic journey. Ulbrickson made the risky decision to send his junior varsity team to the big collegiate contests back east, despite the ire of school supporters, some of whom had sons on the veteran varsity team.

Don Hume's illness and recovery

Don Hume, born on July 25, 1915, was an American rower who won Olympic gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Hume was raised in Olympia, Washington and had a gift for rowing. However, his lungs were damaged by the fumes from working in a pulp mill as a child, making him susceptible to respiratory illnesses.

Indeed, Hume fell ill just before the Olympics, and was not in peak condition. Washington's Coach Ulbrickson only included him in the team at the last minute, after the other boys demanded it, refusing to row if Hume wasn't in the boat. Despite his illness, Hume's talent for rowing helped lead the University of Washington rowing team to Olympic victory in 1936.

After the Olympics, Hume served in the merchant marine during World War II. Following the war, he pursued a career in oil and gas exploration and served a term as President of the West Coast Mining Association. He died on September 16, 2001, at the age of 86.

Frequently asked questions