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{{short description|American sailor}}
{{Short description|American sailor (1929–2019)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox sailor
{{Infobox sailor
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| fullname = Lowell Orton North
| fullname = Lowell Orton North
| nicknames ="The Pope"
| nicknames ="The Pope"
| nationality = [[United States]]
| nationality = American
| classes = [[Dragon (keelboat)|Dragon]], [[Star (sailboat)|Star]]
| classes = [[Dragon (keelboat)|Dragon]], [[Star (sailboat)|Star]]
| club = {{yachtclub|San Diego Yacht Club}}
| club = {{yachtclub|San Diego Yacht Club}}
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{{MedalGold| [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]] | [[Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Star|Star class]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]] | [[Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Star|Star class]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo]] | {{nowrap|[[Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Dragon|Dragon class]]}}}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Tokyo]] | {{nowrap|[[Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Dragon|Dragon class]]}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Star World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Star World Championship|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|{{nowrap|1945 Central Long Island Sound}}|{{nowrap|Star class}}}}
{{MedalGold|{{nowrap|1945 Central Long Island Sound}}|{{nowrap|Star class}}}}
{{MedalGold|[[1957 Star World Championships|1957 Havana]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1957 Star World Championship|1957 Havana]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1959 Star World Championships|1959 Newport Harbor]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1959 Star World Championship|1959 Newport Harbor]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1960 Star World Championships|1960 Rio de Janeiro]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1960 Star World Championship|1960 Rio de Janeiro]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1973 Star World Championships|1973 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalGold|[[1973 Star World Championship|1973 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1956 Star World Championships|1956 Naples]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1956 Star World Championship|1956 Naples]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1963 Star World Championships|1963 Chicago]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1963 Star World Championship|1963 Chicago]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1966 Star World Championships|1966 Kiel]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1966 Star World Championship|1966 Kiel]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1967 Star World Championships|1967 Copenhagen]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1967 Star World Championship|1967 Copenhagen]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1971 Star World Championships|1971 Puget Sound]]|Star class}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1971 Star World Championship|1971 Puget Sound]]|Star class}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1961 Star World Championships|1961 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1961 Star World Championship|1961 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1969 Star World Championships|1969 San Diego]]|Star class}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1969 Star World Championship|1969 San Diego]]|Star class}}
}}
}}


'''Lowell Orton North''' (December 2, 1929 – June 2, 2019) was an [[United States|American]] [[sailboat racing|sailor]] and Olympic Gold Medalist.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Bernie |title=Pioneering sailmaker Lowell North dies at 89. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/pioneering-sailmaker-lowell-north-dies-at-89/2019/06/03/e6971354-866c-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604065743/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/pioneering-sailmaker-lowell-north-dies-at-89/2019/06/03/e6971354-866c-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |work=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref> He competed at the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]], where he received a gold medal in the [[Star (sailboat)|Star class]] with the boat ''North Star'', together with [[Peter Barrett (sailor)|Peter Barrett]].<ref name=db-ol-YAT1968>[http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=17&sp=YAT "1968 Summer Olympics – Mexico City, Mexico – Sailing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929171945/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=17&sp=YAT |date=2008-09-29 }} ''databaseOlympics.com'' (Retrieved on April 18, 2008)</ref>
'''Lowell Orton North''' (December 2, 1929 – June 2, 2019) was an American [[sailboat racing|sailor]] and Olympic gold medalist.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Bernie |title=Pioneering sailmaker Lowell North dies at 89. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/pioneering-sailmaker-lowell-north-dies-at-89/2019/06/03/e6971354-866c-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604065743/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/pioneering-sailmaker-lowell-north-dies-at-89/2019/06/03/e6971354-866c-11e9-9d73-e2ba6bbf1b9b_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref> He competed at the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]], where he received a gold medal in the [[Star (sailboat)|Star class]] with the boat ''North Star'', together with [[Peter Barrett (sailor)|Peter Barrett]].<ref name=db-ol-YAT1968>{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=17&sp=YAT |title=1968 Summer Olympics – Mexico City, Mexico – Sailing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929171945/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=17&sp=YAT |archive-date=2008-09-29 |website=databaseOlympics.com |access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
North was born in [[Springfield, Missouri]] on December 2, 1929. He was the son of Williard North, a geophysicist for oil companies, and Juanita Williams North, a homemaker. When Lowell was young the family moved to Southern California, where he learned to sail in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]] and later in [[San Diego]].<ref name=nyt/>
⚫
North was born in [[Springfield, Missouri]] on December 2, 1929. He was the son of Williard North.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://starclass.org/history/1948northamericans.pdf|title=Star Class - History|website=starclass.org|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> In 1956 he married Kay Gillette North (March 9, 1933 – September 5, 2021). They had three children: Danny, Holly, and Julie.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kay Gillette North|date=September 19, 2021|work=San Diego Union Tribune}}</ref> They later divorced. In 1994 he married Helen Beatrice Davidson, known as Bea, who survived him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/obituaries/lowell-north-dies.html|title=Lowell North, World Champion Sailor and Innovative Sailmaker, Dies at 89|last=Slotnik|first=Daniel E.|date=June 6, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref>


He got his start as a sailmaker at the age of 14, when he and his father raced Star class boats and regularly lost. He recut the sail and improved their record.<ref name=latitude/> In 1945, at age 15, he crewed for [[Malin Burnham]] in the Star World Championships, which they won. North later said, "It wasn’t me Malin wanted. It was my mainsail."<ref name=latitude/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nshof.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=326:north-lowell-2011-inductee&catid=78&Itemid=253|title=North, Lowell - 2011 Hall of Fame|website=www.nshof.org|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> During the next 30 years he won another four Star Worlds.
He got his start as a sailmaker at the age of 14, when he and his father raced Star class boats and regularly lost. He recut the sail and improved their record. In 1945, at age 15, he crewed for [[Malin Burnham]] in the Star World Championship, which they won. North later said, "It wasn’t me Malin wanted. It was my mainsail."<ref name=latitude/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nshof.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=326:north-lowell-2011-inductee&catid=78&Itemid=253|title=North, Lowell - 2011 Hall of Fame|website=www.nshof.org|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> During the next 30 years he won another four Star Worlds.


He went on to earn a degree in civil engineering from the [[University of California, Berkeley]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lowell-north-applied-computer-modeling-to-art-of-making-sails-11560523345|title=Lowell North Applied Computer Modeling to Art of Making Sails|date=June 14, 2019|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> but sail design remained his main focus. Opening his first sail making company in the late 1950s, "his methodical and scientific approach to sailmaking changed the industry." He used computer modeling, new materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques.<ref name=latitude>{{cite news|url=https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/the-legend-of-lowell-north/|title=The Legend of Lowell North|last=Henry|first=Tim|date=June 5, 2019|work=Latitude 38|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> In 1957, he founded [[North Sails]] in [[San Diego]], a world wide company producing sailing equipment. <ref>http://www.na.northsails.com/AboutUs/HistoryofNorthSails/tabid/1951/Default.aspx</ref>
He studied at [[San Diego State University|San Diego State College]] and earned a degree in civil engineering from the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name=nyt/> He worked as a structural engineer in the aerospace industry, but sail design remained his main passion. He opened his first sail making company in the late 1950s, where "his methodical and scientific approach to sailmaking changed the industry." He used computer modeling, new materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques.<ref name=latitude>{{cite news|url=https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/the-legend-of-lowell-north/|title=The Legend of Lowell North|last=Henry|first=Tim|date=June 5, 2019|work=Latitude 38|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> In 1957 he founded [[North Sails]], a world-wide company producing sailing equipment, in San Diego.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northsails.com/sailing/en/60-years|title=60 Years of Sailmaking|work=North Sails|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref>


He received a bronze medal in the [[Dragon (keelboat)|Dragon class]] at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=db-ol-YAT1964>[http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=16&sp=YAT "1964 Summer Olympics – Tokyo, Japan – Sailing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221195824/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=16&sp=YAT |date=2007-02-21 }} ''databaseOlympics.com'' (Retrieved on April 18, 2008)</ref>
He received a bronze medal in the [[Dragon (keelboat)|Dragon class]] at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=db-ol-YAT1964>{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=16&sp=YAT |title=1964 Summer Olympics – Tokyo, Japan – Sailing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221195824/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=16&sp=YAT |archive-date=2007-02-21 |website=databaseOlympics.com |access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>


North participated in [[1977 America's Cup]] defender series where he skippered the [[12 metre]] yacht ''Enterprise''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/lowell-north-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418114217/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/lowell-north-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|title=Lowell North Bio, Stats, and Results|website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>
North participated in [[1977 America's Cup]] defender series where he skippered the [[12 metre]] yacht ''Enterprise''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/lowell-north-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418114217/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/lowell-north-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|title=Lowell North Bio, Stats, and Results|website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>


North retired in 1984. In 2011, he was inducted into the [[National Sailing Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nshof.org/inductees/north-lowell-2011-hall-of-fame/|title=Lowell North 2011 Inductee |publisher=Nshof.org |access-date=April 12, 2020}}</ref>
North retired in 1984. In 2011, he was inducted into the [[National Sailing Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nshof.org/inductees/north-lowell-2011-hall-of-fame/|title=Lowell North 2011 Inductee |publisher=Nshof.org |access-date=April 12, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
⚫
In 1956 he married Kay Gillette North (March 9, 1933 – September 5, 2021). They had three children: Danny, Holly, and Julie.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kay Gillette North|date=September 19, 2021|work=San Diego Union Tribune}}</ref> They later divorced. In 1994 he married Helen Beatrice Davidson, known as Bea, who survived him.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/obituaries/lowell-north-dies.html|title=Lowell North, World Champion Sailor and Innovative Sailmaker, Dies at 89|last=Slotnik|first=Daniel E.|date=June 6, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Star World Championships#Multiple medallist|Star World Championships – Multiple medallist]]
* [[Star World Championship#Multiple medallist|Star World Championship – Multiple medallist]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in sailing#Dragon class|List of Olympic medalists in Dragon class sailing]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in sailing#Dragon class|List of Olympic medalists in Dragon class sailing]]


Latest revision as of 22:17, 30 May 2023

Lowell North
Personal information
Full nameLowell Orton North
Nickname"The Pope"
NationalityAmerican
Born(1929-12-02)December 2, 1929
Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJune 2, 2019(2019-06-02) (aged 89)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Sailing career
Class(es)Dragon, Star
Club San Diego Yacht Club
College team University of California, Berkeley
Medal record
Men's sailing
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo Dragon class
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1945 Central Long Island Sound Star class
Gold medal – first place 1957 Havana Star class
Gold medal – first place 1959 Newport Harbor Star class
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rio de Janeiro Star class
Gold medal – first place 1973 San Diego Star class
Silver medal – second place 1956 Naples Star class
Silver medal – second place 1963 Chicago Star class
Silver medal – second place 1966 Kiel Star class
Silver medal – second place 1967 Copenhagen Star class
Silver medal – second place 1971 Puget Sound Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1961 San Diego Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1969 San Diego Star class

Lowell Orton North (December 2, 1929 – June 2, 2019) was an American sailor and Olympic gold medalist.[1] He competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where he received a gold medal in the Star class with the boat North Star, together with Peter Barrett.[2]

Biography[edit]

North was born in Springfield, Missouri on December 2, 1929. He was the son of Williard North, a geophysicist for oil companies, and Juanita Williams North, a homemaker. When Lowell was young the family moved to Southern California, where he learned to sail in Newport Beach and later in San Diego.[3]

He got his start as a sailmaker at the age of 14, when he and his father raced Star class boats and regularly lost. He recut the sail and improved their record. In 1945, at age 15, he crewed for Malin Burnham in the Star World Championship, which they won. North later said, "It wasn’t me Malin wanted. It was my mainsail."[4][5] During the next 30 years he won another four Star Worlds.

He studied at San Diego State College and earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.[3] He worked as a structural engineer in the aerospace industry, but sail design remained his main passion. He opened his first sail making company in the late 1950s, where "his methodical and scientific approach to sailmaking changed the industry." He used computer modeling, new materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques.[4] In 1957 he founded North Sails, a world-wide company producing sailing equipment, in San Diego.[6]

He received a bronze medal in the Dragon class at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[7]

North participated in 1977 America's Cup defender series where he skippered the 12 metre yacht Enterprise.[8]

North retired in 1984. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.[9]

Personal life[edit]

In 1956 he married Kay Gillette North (March 9, 1933 – September 5, 2021). They had three children: Danny, Holly, and Julie.[10] They later divorced. In 1994 he married Helen Beatrice Davidson, known as Bea, who survived him.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wilson, Bernie. "Pioneering sailmaker Lowell North dies at 89". Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "1968 Summer Olympics – Mexico City, Mexico – Sailing". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Slotnik, Daniel E. (June 6, 2019). "Lowell North, World Champion Sailor and Innovative Sailmaker, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Henry, Tim (June 5, 2019). "The Legend of Lowell North". Latitude 38. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "North, Lowell - 2011 Hall of Fame". www.nshof.org. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "60 Years of Sailmaking". North Sails. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "1964 Summer Olympics – Tokyo, Japan – Sailing". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
  8. ^ "Lowell North Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  9. ^ "Lowell North 2011 Inductee". Nshof.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Kay Gillette North". San Diego Union Tribune. September 19, 2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lowell_North&oldid=1157777850"