ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red Rowing program had a phenomenal weekend-long celebration at the Cornell Rowing Center as it welcomed back the 1958 IRA heavyweight champions, raced for the Schwartz Cup, and honored Carl Ullrich '50 at The Whitey Mullestein '32 Leadership Award Dinner.
 
A dinner to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the heavyweight rowing team that swept the varsity eight, second varsity eight, and the freshman eight at the 1958 IRA National Championships kicked off the weekend on Friday night with more than 40 people attending.
 

Saturday morning, the boathouse participated in the annual Schwartz Cup, class races supported by Dick and Jean Schwartz, followed by the annual CRA Board Meeting.
 
Saturday night featured the premiere event of the weekend, The Whitey Mullestein '32 Leadership Award Dinner, where more than 140 people gathered to honor former Big Red lightweight rower and freshman heavyweight coach, Carl F. Ullrich '50.
 
Born in Ridgewood, N.J., Ullrich played football and lacrosse as a high school athlete before enlisting in the Navy during the latter stages of World War II.  After his service, he enrolled at Cornell University and joined the Marine Corps Reserves.  He continued his athletic participation as a member of the Big Red rowing program and helped the lightweight team win the 1949 national championship and served as a captain in 1950. 
 
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Ullrich was called into active duty by the Marines in 1950.  He served in the conflict as both a platoon leader and company commander, experiences that shaped his future leadership style. 
 
While Ullrich's service in Korea laid the foundation for his professional development, the defining moment of his personal life occurred after he left the military.  Upon his return to the United States, he began a teaching career at a private high school on Long Island.  It was there that Ullrich met his wife, Becky, who was also a teacher at the school.  The two have been inseparable ever since, raising three sons and two daughters. 
 
Ullrich returned to Cornell University as the freshmen heavyweight coach in 1955 and had a very successful record.  He coached the 1958 freshmen crew to an IRA title and the 1959 crew to an undefeated season.  He coached at Cornell University for five years and made a profound impact on countless Big Red rowers.  After leaving Cornell, he would continue coaching at Columbia University, Boston University and the U.S. Naval Academy.  After 11 years in Annapolis, Carl was hired as athletic director at Western Michigan University.  After just one year at WMU, Ullrich was hired as the first civilian athletic director at West Point.  He would go on to have a very successful 10-year career.
 
Ullrich retired from West Point in 1990, but his career as an athletic administrator was far from over.  He took over as the first full-time executive director of the newly formed Patriot League, a position he held until 1993.  After deciding to give up the conference job, he and his wife retired to North Carolina.
 
 While helping run the swimming pool at nearby St. Andrew's College, Ullrich was asked to fill in as the school's athletic director.  He held the position twice, serving from 1995 to 1997 and 2002 to 2004.  He finally decided to retire for good and moved to his current home in Virginia Beach, VA, to be closer to family. 
 
Ullrich has been inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame for West Point, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Eastern College Athletic Conference and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. 
 
Ullrich and the 1949 Championship Crew have been instrumental in leaving a lasting legacy for the Cornell University crews by providing support for boats, program operations, and team travel.