Dr. David Easterla, distinguished professor of biology at Northwest Missouri State University, recently had what was probably his last foray in the U.S. Masters Swimming competition in Omaha.

The 74-year-old, who is the oldest professor on campus, competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals in Omaha, placing in nine of the events, including a third-place finish in the 200 meter individual medley.

Ive never felt better in my life, said Dr. Easterla, who weighs the same, 177 pounds, as he did when he wrestled at the University of Missouri Columbia in 1959. This is it. This is my last hurrah.

Dr. Easterla regularly trained for his swimming events at the university pool, which was closed in April due to budget constraints. The closest lap pool to Maryville is in Clarinda, Iowa, he said. Commuting back and forth was taking too much out of the day.

Youve got to train, he said of competing in the events, which include multiple races per day, including a 500 yard race. If youre not in shape, you will die.

He qualified for Nationals after winning nine gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the Missouri Senior Games in Columbia last month. He competed in the Iowa Senior Games a week later and took 11 gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Unless things change, he said of the budget situation in public higher education funding, I suppose this will be my last hurrah.

In his 48 years of teaching at Northwest, Dr. Easterla has published 229 scientific articles. He has published a book on the birds of Missouri, and is spending the summer researching vertebrate paleontology, archeology and birds.

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmy.myers@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPMyers.

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