Daniel Arthur Lichty
Daniel Arthur Lichty, 84, widower of Barbara E. Lichty passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024, just two years after his beloved wife, at UK Good Samaritan Hospital after a brief illness.
Daniel was born on October 12, 1939, in Pasadena, California, and was the son of Kenneth B. Lichty and Juanita Lichty, both of whom preceded him in death. Dan grew up in Southern California where he and his brother Larry were both divers. Dan began diving at age 7 at the Shadow Mountain Club in Palm Desert and later dove for the Los Angeles Athletic Club with coach Lyle Draves. He was a 1957 graduate of Coachella Valley High School in Indio, California, where he was the student body president as well as a swimmer, diver, and water polo player. He won the California Interscholastic Federation High School Championship in both 1956 and 1957. He also participated in the 1956 Olympic Diving Trials. After high school he attended The Ohio State University where he dove for two years and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and met his bride-to-be, Barbara. They married in 1960 and returned to California where he completed his B.A. and M.A. in Physical Education at California State University. After graduation he taught and coached multiple sports and was the Athletic Director at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California from 1962-1969.
Dan and Barbara were married for 62 years living in Ohio, and California before moving to Kentucky in 1969 making Richmond their forever home. They came to Richmond so Dan could continue his dream of being a swimming coach. When he arrived at Eastern Kentucky University he was the Assistant Swimming Coach and Head Diving Coach under Donald Combs as well as the Head Coach of the Model Swimming and Diving Teams. As the Model Swimming and Diving Coach from 1969-1975 he won two KHSAA Class AA Girls Championships (1970, 1971) and one KHSAA Class AA Boys Championship (1972) and never finished below 3rd for the boys and 6th for the girls during his tenure at Model. In 1975 Dan became the Head Coach of the EKU Men’s Swimming and Diving program and added the Women’s Swimming and Diving team in 1984 where he coached until the programs were discontinued after the 1986-1987 season. Dan continued to pursue coaching at the high school and collegiate levels by coaching the Madison Central High School Swimming team from 1996-2001 and the Berea College Swimming and Diving team for several years.
Dan not only loved coaching but his life revolved around aquatics. He taught countless people to swim and was a proponent of teaching water safety for all. He was an Assistant Professor, Exercise & Sport Science, where he taught physical education, life saving, and water safety classes during his 33 year tenure at EKU. He also developed a water exercise program offered through EKU that benefited many people in the Richmond community. He helped develop and build Richmond’s first water park, Paradise Cove Aquatic Center, and helped design the Telford YMCA therapy pool. Through the years Dan served the KY State Parks and KY 4-H Program as a consultant for their aquatics programs. He served as the Starter, Referee, and Diving Referee for numerous KHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships as well as a Diving Judge at the NCAA National Championships, National Age-Group Championships, and YMCA National Championships. Dan was instrumental in helping build the First Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, where he was a member and deacon. Dan was also a member of the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels.
Dan was passionate about aquatics but his true passion was helping young men and women grow into their potential and find their passion. He and Barbara developed a culture within The EKU Eels swimming program that was based on family. He considered his swimmers to be his adopted “sons and daughters” with many of them considering him as a second dad or father figure in their lives. He was so proud of the Eels Family! He was a coach’s coach with numerous former swimmers and students becoming swimming and diving coaches at the AAU, high school, and collegiate levels. His influence on aquatics and the swimming community will continue for years to come through the lives he touched.
His love for the land came from growing up on a farm in California where his father was a date and citrus farmer and he continued to farm all of his life. In retirement his favorite place to be was on his tractor. Family meant everything to him and he supported his children’s passions throughout their lives, including many hours of coaching on the pool deck and traveling to meets. Dan’s grandchildren were his pride and joy and he loved attending their concerts, meets, events, and ballgames. He was so proud of the young men and women they have become and of all they are achieving in their lives.
Survivors include: his daughter and son-in-law, Denise Lichty Turpin and Mark Turpin of Lexington, Kentucky; son and daughter-in-law, Brent A. Lichty and Amy Potrzeba-Lichty of Papillion, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Clay Turpin and Fiancée Haley Jackson of Alcoa, Tennessee; Hannah Turpin of Lexington, Kentucky; Bailey Lichty Rosemann and husband Eric Rosemann of Central City, Nebraska; and Brady Lichty of Papillion, Nebraska; one brother, Lawrence Lichty and Kit Seay of Austin, Texas; niece, Belinda Lichty Clarke and husband Greg Clarke and children Nolan and Wilson of Evanston, Illinois; and niece Laurel Lichty of Washington, DC.