HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell today recognized the contributions of swim coach and schoolteacher Jim Ellis, whose work to create Philadelphia’s first African-American swim team is featured in the new movie, “Pride.”
“I commend Jim Ellis for his decades of hard work and lasting contributions to the community,” said Rendell. “His dedicated efforts helped to improve the lives of many at-risk children and young adults, guiding them toward a brighter future.”
In the early 1970s, Ellis founded the PDR swim team, based at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center. Today, it has become the city’s nationally recognized competitive swim team, the nation’s best predominantly African-American team, and a model for urban swim programs around the country.
For more information about the PDR swim team, a unit of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, visit www.pdraquatics.com.