The mayor of Cleveland from 1890 to 1896, he left a profound mark on yachting, both locally and nationally, through his innovative planning. To preserve a portion of the lakefront for the people of Cleveland when railroads began laying their tracks he founded the Cleveland Yacht Club in 1878 and served as its commodore from 1878 to 1894. Founded the Inter-Lake Yachting Association in 1885 to develop a sensible handicapping rule for sail yachts and was commodore of the I-LYA from 1885 to 1894. Was the driving force in establishing the Yacht Racing Union of the Great Lakes and finally organized the North American Yacht Racing Union (now the U.S. Yacht Racing Union) in 1897 to further develop equitable handicapping rules on a national basis.
First ever to win national Highlander Class championship fives times, capturing the title in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977. Was national runnerup in 1976, 1978 and 1979. Also won the Great Lakes Highlander Class championship in 1977. He was the Edgewater Yacht Club’s Highlander Class champion for 11 consecutive years and was acclaimed EYC’s “Skipper of the Year” for outstanding work in behalf of sailing in 1972, 1973 and 1975.
In 1966 he capped a great racing career by winning the Transatlantic race to Travemunde, Germany, sailing his 47-foot, custom built yawl, Indigo IV. He celebrated his 77th birthday in mid-ocean in that race. The owner of a series of fine cruising sail yachts, all named Indigo, he was a perennial winner in area races, sailing from the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club.