In the end, Stephen Gladstone and his crew fatefully followed in the footsteps of their historic predecessors in a shell named after, and christened by, Don Blessing. Their winning time of 5:23.6 in the 1999 Varsity Final, has never been beaten.

To this day the California crew team continues to excel, and in 2006 they added another IRA varsity title to their legendary legacy. Now with eleven IRA titles to his credit, Gladstone has more than any other rowing coach alive, and has tied the all-time record.

Sadly, Don Blessing passed on July 4th, 2000, but not before he got the chance to watch his Golden Bears break the course record, and hold his precious trophy one last time.