Richard L. Tillman, known as Dick Tillman, (November 27, 1936 – October 15, 2020) was an American sailor. He was a member of the United States sailing team at the 1976 Summer Olympics as an alternate and was named US Sailor of the Year in 1965.
He is a class of 2024 National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee.The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame
He started sailing as a teenager at Wawasee Yacht Club crewing for Alan (Buzz) Levinson, his older brother Frank and his younger brother, Harry, in their Snipes.
College Dick Tillman was National Intercollegiate Sailing Champion with the U.S. Naval Academy in 1957,Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association and became a member of the ICSA Hall of Fame for Competitive Achievement after graduation in 1958.Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association
Sailing career Dick Tillman holds national, North American and world titles in the Snipe, Finn, Laser and Sunfish classes: U.S. National Champion in Snipe (1959), Finn (1965),International Finn Association North American Champion in Laser (1971, 1972 and 1973), and Finn (1965).International Finn Association
He also won a bronze medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in Snipe.Snipe Pan Am Games
In the Masters category, he also holds several championships: International Sunfish Masters Champion in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2002.International Sunfish Class Association World Great Grand Masters Laser radial Champion in 2002. North American Laser Masters Champion in 1981 and 1982.Laser Sailing Tips World Masters Games Silver Medalist at the 1998 Nike World Masters in Windsurfing Bronze Medalist at the 1998 Nike World Masters in Laser
Organizational activities Dick Tillman has been a member of the United States Sailing Association for over 30 years and director for 3 years (1999-2002), chair of National Single-handed Championship Committee for 7 years, commodore of the Snipe Class International Racing Association (1971), sailing representative to USOC Athletes Advisory Council (1976-1980), Executive Director of the International J/24 Class Association (1981-1991), and president of the US Windsurfing Association, president of the International Sunfish Class Association (2002-2006).
Books He wrote The Complete Book of Laser Sailing, published by McGraw Hill in 2005.The Complete Book of Laser Sailing
References
External links Interview with Dick Tillman - Snipe Sailor