Dick Draz grew up in Ohio and graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelors and Masters degree. He’s been married for sixty one years to his wife Helen and has three grown children.
He joined the staff at Crawford in 1962 and retired 1991 as the Head Swimming and Water Polo coach. He then coached the swimming and water polo teams at Mesa College for 9 years.
Dick rejoined two officiating associations San Diego Water Polo Officials Association and San Diego Swimming and Diving Association that he helped develop many years earlier. He also officiated club water polo and U.S. Water Polo during the summers.
He became the San Diego Section CIF–Tournament Director for boy’s and girl’s water polo and meet director for boy’s and girl’s swimming. As a water polo official he’s officiated first round, quarter final, semi-final and CIF championship games.
Dick became the men’s and women’s water polo and swimming assigner for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. After the dual meet season, he also officiated at the Conference Swim Championships.
As a member of the SDWPOA, he’s served on the Board of Director’s as a Member at Large, Vice President (twice) and most recently as President. At 85, he’s still a member officiating varsity, junior-varsity and novice water polo games.
Dick has officiated swim meets throughout the county including the prestigious San Diego Iron Man Relays he started 49 years ago. For the past several years, he’s served on the CIF Diving Championship judges panel.