The team of Dan Gallagher '81 and Livingston Johnson '79
Dan Gallagher '81 and Livingston Johnson '79 were groundbreakers for the rowing program and varsity athletics at Connecticut College. In June of 1979, the talented tandem won the gold medal at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship in Syracuse, N.Y.
During the regular racing season, they won a silver medal in the coxed four event at the Dad Vail Regatta. Following up on that success, Ricci came up with the idea of splitting the boat to capitalize on the obvious strength of the Gallagher-Johnson pair combination.
"Winning the IRA Regatta is an outstanding accomplishment for any crew and had added significance because it was the first national title for the Connecticut College athletic program," Ricci said. “It's also important to remember that the rowing program had only been a varsity sport for six years when Dan and Liv won this championship.”
Gallagher graduated with degrees in history and economics. He continued to row competitively with the Union Boat Club in Boston from 1984-1998, traveling to the U.K. to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta in 1986 and 1988.
Gallagher is a senior vice president at General Impression Inc., an early stage alternative energy technology company. A native of Houston, Tex., he currently resides in Bristol, R.I.
After earning his economics degree from the College, Johnson continued to row competitively in a single shell and has won events at numerous regattas, including the prestigious Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, Pa.
Johnson has worked in the investment business and as a venture capitalist. In 2002, he founded MedAvante, a company focused on pharmaceutical clinical trial innovation. Johnson is originally from Princeton, N.J., and currently resides in the nearby town of Skillman.
January 16, 2009
