Ronald Cardwell

Ronald Cardwell rowed at Boston University. In his freshman year he was on the lightweight coxed four that won the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen (NAAO) championship. He also stroked the senior heavyweight eight to a title at Canadian Henley that year. In 1953 Cardwell again won the senior fours NAAO title in 1953, adding the senior heavyweight coxless pairs. He repeated his victory as stroke of the senior fours in 1954, and winning the junior single sculls at Canadian Henley. At the 1955 Pan American Games, Cardwell won a silver medal in coxless fours.

After college, Cardwell entered the US Marine Corps and flight school. He became a career military officer, eventually retiring in 1976 as a lieutenant-colonel, after serving two tours in Vietnam, and flying more than 300 combat sorties as a fighter pilot. For his combat service, Cardwell received a Bronze Star Air Medal with 14 clusters, a Navy Commendation, and a Vietnam Cross.