Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Perhaps the toughest individual ever to pull an oar for the SPU crew is John Terwilliger.

Nicknamed “Lurch” by his teammates for his daunting stature – and perhaps for his menacing demeanor – Terwilliger was an athlete of some contradiction. Athletically, his demands on himself and others were merciless. On a personal level, he was intensely loyal and even compassionate at times. Terwilliger didn’t just endure pain. He thrived on it. He never let up, never quit, and never let anyone else down for a single stroke.

Despite his small-college origins, Terwilliger persevered and thrived in the arduous rowing environment, both while at SPU and beyond. Beating the odds and the big-program bias, he earned a spot on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team as a Falcon junior. During his senior year, Terwilliger was a member of a varsity four which was undefeated through the regular season and became the first Falcon crew to race in a national regatta, as SPU took third at Dad Vail. He simply made every boat go faster.

After graduating, Terwilliger made eight more national teams, bringing back medals from the 1984 Olympics (silver), the 1986 World Championships (bronze) and the 1986 Goodwill Games (gold). His final international appearance was with the U.S. four at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Now a commercial real estate banker, Terwilliger, wife Lily and daughter Samantha reside in Chula Vista, Calif.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1977-81)

• Bronze medal in varsity four at 1981 Dad Vail.

• Bronze medal in eights at 1986 World Championships.

• Silver medal in eights at 1984 Olympics.

• Gold medal in eights at 1986 Goodwill Games.