From 1974 until 2000, Fritz Jewett played a pivotal shoreside role in making the United States' America's Cup teams competitive. Besides chairing five defense and challenge syndicates, Jewett was a key participant in four Stars & Stripes campaigns, from 1987 until 1995. His final Cup role in 2000 was as chairman of the America One Challenge syndicate on behalf of the St. Francis Yacht Club.
In all, Jewett helped three different clubs mount America's Cup campaigns. Under the New York Yacht Club burgee he began as co-chair for Intrepid in 1974, and subsequently as chair of the Enterprise, Freedom, and Liberty syndicates. The Stars & Stripes campaigns were under the San Diego Yacht Club burgee, and finally, America One represented the St. Francis Yacht Club.
Fritz Jewett is an avid sailor and member of the St. Francis Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, San Diego Yacht Club, Pacific-Union Club, Bohemian Club, Villa Taverna, and Spouting Rock Beach Association in Newport, R.I. Jewett received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in 1950 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1952. George "Fritz" Jewett Jr. joined Potlatch Corporation in 1954 and moved into corporate administration in 1955. In December 1999, he retired as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, having been elected in December 1977. He is also a longtime philanthropic contributor to the arts, science and medicine on both local and national levels.
For his remarkable contribution to the America's Cup initiatives, George "Fritz" Jewett Jr. is elected to the America's Cup Hall of Fame. In response to his nomination Jewett stated, "The 1974 Intrepid campaign to defend the Cup against Australia was very exciting for my family and myself. While the competition was intense, we gained many friends as well as a strong desire to win the next Cup series. We enjoyed the camaraderie and being associated with the best yacht designers, boat builders, sail makers and sailors in the world, many of whom are in the America's Cup Hall of Fame. I am honored to be included in this group of people who helped to shape the America's Cup competition as it is today."
