Allatoona Aquatics Base News
(August, 1999)

Rankin Smith Swim Area to be Dedicated
The Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, will dedicated its new Swim and Lifesaving Facility in honor of Rankin Smith at Camp Allatoona Aquatics Base on Thursday, August 19, 1999.

In January 1999, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation approved a grant to the Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, for use at the Council's Allatoona Aquatics Base.  The grant was a lead gift to name the Swim Facility in honor of Rankin Smith, former owner of the Atlanta Falcons who passed away October 26, 1997.  The grant presented to the Council by the Foundation leveraged other gifts from various Atlanta businesses and corporations, including Northside Hospital Foundation.

Serves Atlanta Youth
The instructional and recreational facility was designed for the development of a waterfront swim area that will serve thousands of Atlanta youth, with a particular focus on inner city youth.

"Our ability to reach inner city, as well as suburban youth will be greatly enhanced by the addition of this facility," said Tom Wilson, Director of Support Service for the Atlanta Area Council.  "Furthermore, the quality of instruction

will also be enhanced since the facility is specifically designed to teach swimming."

The location of Allatoona and its close vicinity to downtown Atlanta will make it more accessible to the youth who otherwise are not given the opportunity to experience the full range of the outdoors.

Model Training Area
The Camp will also provide a safer swimming environment.  "The new centrally located facility will provide life long skills for the more than 73,000 young Scouts served by the Atlanta Area Council, from learning to swim to lifesaving training," said David Larkin, Scout Executive for the Atlanta Area Council.

"Scout leaders will also have the opportunity to be trained in national programs like Safe Swim Defense."  The new swim area will provide a model training area that will coach young adults in swimming, survival skills and lifesaving.

Dedication Ceremony
The dedication of the Swim Area was one of the first sites named in honor of Rankin Smith since his death.  The ceremony was attended by Smith's son, Taylor, who is the President of the Atlanta Falcons, and by Smith's daughter, Dorothy Ann Knox, Chair of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.  Numerous other Falcon's management also attended the dedications.