SEQUIM, Wash. — He's "The Boy in the Boat" who's the heart of both the bestselling book - and the upcoming movie directed by George Clooney.
“Historically he's a hero. He's a darn hero,” said Judy Stipe, executive director of Sequim Museum and Arts. This local history museum has a permanent display dedicated to Joe Rantz, Sequim’s hometown hero who was abandoned by his parents, then went on to become a rower for the University of Washington, eventually rowing on the boat that would win gold for the USA in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.
Volunteers at this museum even helped author Daniel James Brown research his book.
"We went into the old newspapers old annuals, and we found everything we could,” Stipe said.
Easy enough in a small town - Rantz attended high school in this building right across the street from the museum before going to the University of Washington and making crew, then making history.
At the museum you can see Joe Rantz memorabilia, watch film of his Olympic crew racing in Berlin, you can even listen to the actual radio broadcast of the race while settled into the museum's replica 1930's living room. Also, drop by at the right time and you may catch volunteers working to restore an 8 person cedar shell built by George Pocock, the famed craftsman who built winning racing shells inside the UW Crew House.
Just a short walk from the museum, Sequim's Blue Whole Gallery has also caught "The Boys in the Boat" buzz, their windows are decorated with rowing gear and they're helping raise money to support a local cause tied into the movie.
"I think it's pretty high, people are pretty jazzed about it,” said Jolene Sanborn, gallery president. "Proceeds from the sale of certain pieces of art will be donated to the Rotarian effort to build the Joe Rantz Youth House."
Pat McCauley is the committee chair for the Joe Rantz Rotary Youth Fund, which was established here about 4 years ago to help homeless teens graduate from high school.
When students at Sequim High School's Interact Service Club made a TikTok video asking George Clooney to screen the "Boys in the Boat" in this town as a fundraiser to support local homeless teens, it worked.
"It exploded, we got their attention, and that's why we're having the screening here,” explained McCauley.
Thanks to the kids and support from the local Rotary Club "The Boys in the Boat" will play here weeks before it opens nationwide on Christmas - as a fundraiser for the Joe Rantz Rotary Youth Fund. The event is called "A Tribute to Joe Rantz" and the hope is to use the screening, and post-screening dinner at Sequim Museum and Arts, to raise enough money to build the Joe Rantz House, a place where the area’s homeless teens can live. No word on whether Clooney will attend.
"I sure hope so. I think a lot of people are gonna be looking at dark cars, black cars with dark windows, is he in there? Is he in there?” said Jolene Sanborn.
Whether the film’s famous director shows up or not, this community is already home to a celebrity - Joe Rantz. And they're pulling together just like "The Boys in the Boat" - in his honor.
“We are all in the same boat,” Sanborn said.
“We need our kids to be housed, and we need our kids to graduate from high school, and that's why the community is pulling together here,” added McCauley.
"A Tribute to Joe Rantz" takes place Friday Dec. 8th at 3:45 with a screening of the movie "The Boys in the Boat" and a dinner celebration at Sequim Museum and Arts following the screening. Click here to purchase a sponsorship, or to donate to the Joe Rantz Rotary Youth Fund.
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