National Championships
1958
200-yard butterfly (2:25.6) 
400-yard medley relay (4:12.2)

1959
200-yard butterfly (2:19.6)
200-yard individual medley (2:20.7)

1960
200-yard butterfly (2:14.6)

Ernie Alix ’62 was an integral part of the swimming powerhouse that was North Central College in the late 1950s and early ’60s. A high school All-American at Lockport Senior High School, he was recruited to the College by fellow Lockport, N.Y., native and coach Hal Henning ’41. In addition, two of his former teammates at Lockport also swam for the Cardinals, Dan Stump ’61 and Ed Bloomgren ’62.

Although he had offers from a number of schools, having teammates and a coach from the same hometown made a big difference in choosing North Central. Alix wasted little time making an impact, winning national championships in the 200-yard butterfly and as part of the 400-yard medley relay team at the 1958 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championships to help the team to its first national title. He went on to repeat in the 200 butterfly in 1959 and 1960, as well as become national champion in the 200-yard individual medley (1959). Alix was just as impressive at the conference level, winning the College Conference of Illinois three straight years in both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard IM.

His fondest memory came at the 1958 NAIA National Championships when the Cardinals placed 1-2-3 in the 200-yard butterfly. Another highlight came in 1957 when Merner Field House was host to the National Junior Amateur Athletic Union 220-yard butterfly, and Alix set an American record in the event. Academically, he received a medal upon graduation for the highest grade-point average accumulated by an athlete.

After three years at North Central, Alix left to attend law school at the University of Illinois. He returned to the College and assisted the swim team while completing his degree in political science in 1962. Alix went on to Southern Illinois University where he earned his master’s and doctorate in sociology. Alix spent one year at State University of New York-Buffalo as an assistant professor of sociology before returning to Southern Illinois as director of research for community development. He then spent 30 years in Southern’s sociology department and 10 years as associate dean of liberal arts. He retired in 1994.