Hume, gold-medal Husky, dies at 86

Don Hume, the stroke oar on the Washington crew that rowed to a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics, died yesterday in Monroe. He was 86.

Hume had suffered a heart attack followed by a stroke in the past three weeks, said Bob Moch of Woodinville, a close friend and the coxswain on that '36 crew.

Born on July 25, 1915, Hume graduated from high school in Anacortes before entering the UW. The 1936 Huskies eight won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association title, the Olympic Trials and finally the Olympic gold in Berlin, coming from behind to beat Italy by 8 feet.

In 1979, that crew, along with nine other standouts such as Jim Owens, Hugh McElhenny, Gil Dobie and Hec Edmundson, comprised the 10 charter members of the Husky Hall of Fame.

Hume, a former president of the West Coast Mining Association, worked in the oil and gas-drilling industry until suffering the heart attack in British Columbia three weeks ago.

Hume is survived by his brother, Dale, of Olympia.

No services are planned, Moch said.