[Sportsandrec] FW: USABA TO RECOGNIZE FIVE OF FIRST HALL OF FAME CLASS

Tue Nov 24 02:49:52 UTC 2009

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From: United States Association of Blind Athletes [mailto:etap at usaba.org] 
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 5:06 PM
To: Christella Garcia
Subject: USABA TO RECOGNIZE FIVE OF FIRST HALL OF FAME CLASS

 USABA Banner consisting of a USABA logo, red "US", blue "A", braille "B"
and blue "A", superimposed on a USA flag
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USABA TO RECOGNIZE FIVE OF FIRST HALL OF FAME CLASS RECIPIENTS 

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is proud to announce
the first class of Hall of Fame recipients.  Earlier this year, USABA
established a Hall of Fame to recognize USABA athletes, coaches and other
USABA members who distinguished themselves through athletic accomplishment
or through a significant role in the advancement of athletics for people who
are blind and visually impaired.  

Because this first group of nominees reaches back to the founding days of
USABA, the selection committee, led by Genie Scott, was all chosen for their
long-standing knowledge of USABA programs, athletes and accomplishments.
Serving with Genie on the committee were Tom Parrigin, Jack Todd, Lou
Moneymaker, Stephen Kearney and Beth Scott. 

Out of the first Hall of Fame class, five will be recognized on 4 December,
2009 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  They include:

USABA FOUNDERS (REPRESENTED BY LOU MONEYMAKER AND PATTI COPELAND):  

 Lou Moneymaker head shot photo
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The 1976 Paralympic Games was the first games that included competition for
the blind and visually impaired.  Dr. Charles Buell began the search for the
first US Paralympic blind and visually impaired athlete contingent through
individual letters and ads posted in magazines; an initial planning meeting
was held in Indianapolis, Indiana and a tryout camp for wrestlers, swimmers,
and track and field athletes was conducted in Louisville, Kentucky.

While at the first games, Dr. Buell and colleagues, Arthur Copeland, Lou
Moneymaker and Judy Whyte learned that most nations participating in the
Paralympic Games had organizations that provided opportunities for athletes
with visual impairments.  During an informal meeting held in the track
infield at the 1976 Paralympic Games, these four individuals formulated a
plan for an organization that would become the United States Association of
Blind Athletes.Later that year, these same four individuals and twenty eight
other met in Kansas City, Missouri. 
 Arthur Copeland wearing USABA blazer talking to Jim Mastro at early
Paralympic Games
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20Mastro%20and%20Copeland.JPG> 	
 At that time USABA's name was selected, a constitution and by-laws were
established and an initial board of directors was chosen.   Arthur Copeland
was elected USABA's first president.  Lou Moneymaker was elected
vice-president and Judy Whyte was elected treasurer.

Arthur Copeland served as president and fund-raiser, for 10 years.  He
represented USABA at early international meetings and helped develop what
would later become USABA's international federation, the International Blind
Sports Association, IBSA, (now known as the International Blind Sports
Federation).  Judy Whyte served as treasurer for eight years and coached
athletes from Indiana.   Dr. Buell later became a USABA board member and was
USABA's newsletter editor from 1978 to 1982.   

Lou Moneymaker, the only surviving member of this group has held a variety
of positions on the USABA board and served as chef de mission and team
leader for numerous official delegations that participated in international
competitions.  Along with Arthur Copeland, Lou was an architect of IBSA. 

JACK TODD (Coach): 

 Jack Todd Headshot photo
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odd.jpg> 	
Since 1978, Jack served USABA in a multitude of roles including educator,
guide runner, coach, track and field official, and organizer of national and
international events for blind and visually impaired competitors.

As an educator and coach, Jack inspired numerous athletes to successful
athletic careers that include world records and Paralympic gold medals.
Jack has been an active part of each Paralympic Games since 1980 as a guide
runner, coach and in more recent years as a referee and international
technical official for athletics. 

Jack hosted USABA's national goalball championship tournament in 2004 and
also organized the 2001 IBSA Pan-American Games and the 2006 IBSA World
Goalball Championships.  He is USABA's current Track and Field Technical
Chairman.  He is also a member of the IBSA Athletics Subcommittee and serves
as a member of the International Paralympic Committee's Athletics Technical
Committee. 

Jack has been an educator of the blind for over 30 years.  He currently
serves as the Director of Community and Campus Athletic Programs for the
South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.  Jack and his family currently
reside in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

RICHARD RUFFALO (Athlete):

 Rich Ruffalo wearing USA Warmup with two Paralympic medals around his neck
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uffalo.png> 	
Rich Ruffalo excelled in the shot put, discus, javelin, and as a
powerlifter.   Over his competitive career, Rich earned 14 international
gold medals, won 32 national titles, set 9 world and 15 national records and
won 13 USA Track and Field state-level titles.  Rich was the member of 3
Paralympic teams and won four Paralympic medals in shot put, discus and
javelin competitions. 

In 1988, the United States Olympic Committee selected Rich as their Disabled
Athlete of the Year for his athletic, civic and professional
accomplishments.  He was also selected for the 1989 Victor Award, sport's
equivalent of the Academy Award, as the nation's most inspirational athlete
for that year.

Rich was also recognized as an outstanding educator.  In 1995 Rich was named
the Outstanding Teacher of the Year where he received his award from Vice
President Al Gore.  Rich is a member of the National Teacher's Hall of Fame.

Today, Rich is a motivational speaker and lives in Danville, Virginia with
his wife and daughter.

JAMES MASTRO (Athlete):  

 Jim Mastro wearing Judo gi and standing in front of Olypmic rings at the
Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center
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pg> 	
Jim Mastro, who lost his vision while in high school, competed in seven
Paralympic Games and was the first Paralympic athlete ever to medal in four
different sports:  Judo, Wrestling, Track and Field and Goalball, and won
five gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals.  Additionally,
he won eighteen medals in various sports in international competitions.  Jim
holds the current USABA indoor and outdoor B1 shot put records. 

Additionally, Jim was the first blind athlete to be selected as a member of
an Olympic team when he was selected as an alternate on the U.S. Greco-Roman
Wrestling team in 1976.   Last year, Jim was nominated to the United Sates
National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 
Among his accomplishments as an athlete, Jim has also been a leader in the
field of Physical Education.  He was the first blind person 
in the United States to earn a PhD in Adapted Physical Education.   Jim is a
professor at Bemidji State University where he teaches classes in
educational foundations, special education and adaptive physical education. 

Jim is a current USABA board member and is USABA's national Showdown program
coordinator.

JANET ROWLEY-CEBULA (Veteran Athlete):
 Janew Rowley-Cebula head shot photo
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Rowley-Cebula%204.jpg> 	
Janet Rowley-Cebula is a track and field athlete who distinguished herself
during three Paralympic Games where she won seven medals in field events.

Janet's interest in track and field began while she was a student at the
Perkins School for the Blind in 1971.  At 12 years old, Janet was six feet
tall.  One day her school coach asked her if she wanted to try out for track
and field.  Janet decided, "Why not?" and that led her to an experience that
included the Paralympics, various world championships and a successful
collegiate track and field career. 

Janet was one of USABA's early members and was recruited by Dr. Charles
Buell.  Her first experiences with USABA occurred during her first year at
Boston University where she was a member of their track team.   She competed
in the High Jump and the Discus, medaling in various competitions.

In 1980, Janet competed in her first Summer Paralympic Games (Armhem, the
Netherlands) where she won gold medals in the discus, high jump, and shot
put.  She also finished 4th in the javelin and 6th   in the Pentathlon.  At
the 1984 Paralympics (Long Island, New York) she added to her Paralympic
medal count when she won gold medals in the discus, high jump, shot put and
goalball; she also won a bronze medal in the javelin.  Janet also competed
in the Seoul Paralympic Games where she placed 4th in the shot put, 6th in
the discus and 7th in the javelin.

Janet retired from competitive sports in 1990, soon after the World Games in
Assen, the Netherlands and is still the USABA National B2 record holder for
the High Jump, Triple Jump and Shot Put. 

Janet is currently a low vision therapist who lives in New Jersey with her
husband, dog and two cats. 

Other Hall of Fame recipients who will be recognized at future USABA events
include:

*	1984 Men's Paralympic Goalball Team 

*	John Cutcliff 

*	Winford Haynes 

*	Reni Jackson 

*	George Morris 

*	Jim Neppl 

*	Kevin Szott  

*	1984 Women's Paralympic Goalball Team 

*	Cathy Brown 

*	Norma Brown 

*	Angela Garlick 

*	Karen Helmacy 

*	Tonia McHugh 

*	Janet Rowley  

*	Stephen Kearney (Coach) 

*	Dick  Anderson (Coach) 

*	David Beaver (Special Contributor) 

*	Oral Miller (Special Contributor) 

*	Reni Jackson (athlete) 

*	Jim Mastro (athlete) 

*	Mike May (athlete) 

*	Marla Runyon (athlete) 

*	Winford Haynes (athlete) 

*	Carlos Talbot (athlete) 

*	Jim Neppl (athlete) 

The next USABA Hall of Fame Selection committee will convene in the fall of
2012.  Specific information related to that board and submission guidelines
will be posted to the USABA website and provided to USABA members in
mid-2009.  USABA Hall of Fame guidelines are available on the USABA website:
www.usaba.org.

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Address postal inquiries to:
United States Association of Blind Athletes
33 North Institute St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 
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