Dr. Walter B. Peet

Columbia's Crew Coach 1895-1896, 1898-1899

Walter B. Peet was the stroke of the 1881 Columbia crew team and eventually earned a medical degree from Columbia.

Peet continued to be involved with rowing while in medical school and became coach of Columbia crews in 1895.  He is credited with laying out the course for the first Poughkeepsie Regatta and his crew won the inaugural race.

He agreed to a two year post as coach, something he suggested, to better develop the program, so he returned in 1896.  But in 1896, he could not devote as much time to coaching as he was in the middle of medical school.  Much of the day to day coaching was done by Albert W. Putnam with Peet advising him and coaching in person when he was available.  He returned to full time coaching after his examinations in April 1896.

 In December of 1896 there was a question as to whether Peet would be able to serve as coach in 1897.  Peet agreed to coach in 1897, but would only do so if he could arrange his work schedule so that coaching would not conflict with it.  Ultimately, Peet would be replaced as coach for 1897 by another Columbia alumnus, Justus A. B. Cowles.  He did attend the Poughkeepsie Regatta in 1897 as a member of the press and also served as referee for the race.

Peet returned as coach for Columbia in 1898 and would continue in this position until 1900 when he announced his retirement shortly before the Poughkeepsie Regatta.  Two weeks before the Poughkeepsie Regatta, Edward "Ned" Hanlan came on as coach.

Peet continued to be involved in rowing for the rest of his life and in addition to practicing medicine, served as a rowing authority and critic for a number of newspapers.

He passed away June 22, 1927 of a heart attack or cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 66.

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