born december known married american aviator competition swimmer represented united_states summer olympics berlin germany active athletic career swimming included reign national meter champion accepted graduation worked flight instructor prior selected serve country world war member following conflict returned california developed taught curriculum civilian flight veterans returning war racing 1950s husband helped found program ran retired point iris continued program end long time certified recipient international aviation awards member later years remained active lecturer consultant curator harvey early life athletic career born los_angeles attended father possessed doctor medicine worked athletics coach start 20th century columbia_university athletic director mother greek latin teacher iris attended summer olympics spectator began competing swimming following year winning numerous local regional tournaments cold swim remained active cycling member club year competition nonetheless placed meets addition participation southern pacific amateur athletic union pacific coast championships joined received financial support helping attend year far western championships captured american national meter championship led participation year olympic trials selection member united_states delegation summer olympics berlin required raise funds travel games spent time leading tournament collecting money training women meter placed fourth heat opening round eliminated despite remained national champion event left placed second national championships retired active competition shortly deciding summer olympics unlikely occur earned degree physical sciences math world war people accepted completed advanced course earned pilot license graduation acquired training begin work instructor having recruited joined women auxiliary squadron soon wasp graduating training houston served world war organization december time member california eventually reaching rank lieutenant flew different types military aircraft month unit married fellow military pilot met base ferry stop wasp later life following war called develop teach curriculum civilian aviation returning veterans spent 1950s housewife raising children remained active time flight instructor helping develop institutions raced period won capturing prize pot approximately present day terms joined association founded school ran program husband retired continued program ended retirement continued teaching classes students include served decades named organization flight instructor year ontario district inducted awarded dedication airplane safety lifetime dedication aviation official retirement remained active faculty projects addition working lecturer consultant curator university library member organization dedicated support women pilots
Iris Cummings