Howard Gorrell Awarded the Medal of Lifetime Achievement
Howard "Howie" Gorrell has participated in deaf international competitions since 1969 as an athlete, tennis team manager, and as a director of the USA Deaf Tennis program in venues around the world including Belgrade, Yugoslavia; Malmo, Sweden; Bucharest, Romania; Koln, Germany; Los Angeles; Christchurch, New Zealand; Sofia, Bulgaria; Copenhagen, Denmark; Rome, Italy; Melbourne, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; and Samsun, Turkey.
Howie is a 2004 recipient of the Jerald M. Jordan Award, which is an USADSF award that was given to Howie during a non-Deaflympic year as someone who exhibits leadership and continuous participation toward the goals of the Deaflympics. Howie also received the Art Kruger Award for his continuous participation and support in 2011.
Howie was honored by Sen. Ted Stevens in his speech to 2,000 delegates at the banquet of the annual United States Olympic Committee House of Delegates meeting at Colorado Springs on April 28, 1979, for Gorrell's efforts in connection with the passage of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. Stevens said: “Howie Gorrell has a dream. He wants to see more national governing bodies integrate handicapped athletes into their programs. He wants expanded programs for handicapped athletes. The Amateur Sports Act is going to help him achieve that dream."
Michael Hannigan, former executive director of the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports, said about Gorrell, “Howie has been a crusader for the disabled in sports for a good 45 years; no surprise he is still involved and competing. Howie was instrumental in helping us get legislation passed with the USOC on issues affecting the disabled in sports.”
USADSF congratulates Howie on receiving the Medal of Lifetime Achievement, and the Board wholeheartedly thanks Howie for his lasting commitment to continuing the mission of advancing the inclusion of deaf people in sports.
