Utah Deaf Sports

Utah Deaf Sports Organizations

The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) has had athletic programs since the early 1900s. Sports are a significant part of both the Utah and national Deaf communities. Our community has a long history of participation in sports. Participation in sports can aid in the development of their physical, social, and leadership skills. Through sports, participants can develop their ability to interact with people, communicate, and work as a team. Additionally, sports develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Above all, sports help build confidence, and winning a game gives athletes a sense of accomplishment, which enhances their confidence even more.

The following six sections comprise: 1. Athletic Programs at the Utah School for the Deaf; 2. Utah Athletic Club for the Deaf; 3. Golden Spike Athletic Club for the Deaf; and 4. Wasatch Golf Association for the Deaf. The 16th Winter Deaflympics in Utah, as well as Dennis Platt as Torchbearer, are highlighted below.

Athletic Programs at the
Utah School for the Deaf

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney

2014
Updated 2022

As previously stated, the Utah School for the Deaf (USD) has offered sports programs since the early 1900s, as have other state schools for the deaf around the country (Roberts, 1994). Sports have always been an important element of the Deaf community in Utah, as well as the national Deaf community.

Arthur W. Wenger, a sports enthusiast and a 1913 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf who also founded the Arthur Wenger Athletic Association, saw in 1921 that USD had mixed-ability students. Some were overly aggressive or clumsy. Others were too timid. Their rough edges had softened out after learning to interact with one another while playing a sport. Arthur Wenger remarked that USD had once or twice had a half-grown student from the fields who was unable to catch a ball. Baseball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and medicine ball were among the sports they were taught, as shown in the photos below (Wenger, Silent Worker, January 1921).

Arthur W. Wenger

According to Arthur Wenger, athletic programs, not only calisthenic drills that repeated exercises all the time, were encouraged and maintained all year. "Games that produced unexpected situations that caused the players to think and move in time with the rhythm of the games, much like a piano, not a music box," he added. This instilled in them a sense of balance and composure (Wenger, Silent Worker, January 1921, p. 3).

Sports Programs at the Utah School for the Deaf
from 1903 to 1957

The Utah School for the Deaf Football Team in 1902. L-R, front: Arthur BeBee, Rile Carter, Billy Coles, Fred Low, center: Ole Pettit, Verdie Smith, Joe Keeley; back: James Frogner, Hazel Clark, Joe Cameron, John Alvey, Elgin Jacobsen, Joe Bush. In courtesy of J Willard Marriott Library

The Utah School for the Deaf students play basketball in the gym in 1903

The Utah School Basketball Team in 1907. L-R: Rufus Briggs, center; George Powell, guard; Fred Low, forward; Alfred Keeley, guard, and Loran Savage, forward. John Bush was coach. In courtesy of J Willard Marriott Library

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1907. L-R: Nettie West (Carter), Emma Emmertson (Jorgenson), Elsie M. Christiansen, John P. Bush - Coach, Elizabeth Eggingston (Buck), Ivy Griggs (Low)

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1911. L-R: Ray Wenger, Loran Savage, Arthur Wenger; center, Alfred Keeley, Leonard Daraney. Back L-R: Mr. Lewis, Otto Farley, Mr. Thurman

The Utah School for the Deaf Baseball Team in 1913

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1913

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1916. Back Row L-R: Milo Cutler, Ora Duce (of Canada), Cyril Jones, Carlos Seegmiller, Earl Lewis, ___Thurman. Front Row L-R: Alma Wild, ______, Kenneth Olsen

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1918

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1920

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1921

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1924

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1926

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1926. Kneeling L:-R: Coach A. LeRoy Stour and Manager Max W. Woodbury. Standing L-R: _ Despain, Wheelock Freston, Ferdinand Billiter, Arnold Moon, Andrew Loga, Charles Fowbae, Kenneth Burdett, Heber Christensen, Donald Robinson, George Laramie, Ross Thurston (Won 16 games. Lost two)

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1926. L-R: Joseph Burnett, Verl Throup, Virgil Greenwood, Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Earl Smith, Arvel Christensen, William Woodward, Wayne Stewart

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1930. L-R: Coach____, Verl Throup, Joseph Burnett, Virgil Greenwood, Arvel, Christensen, Max Woodbury (Coach). Front L-R: Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Wayne Stewart, Earl Smith, William Woodward

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1930

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1935-36

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1931. Front, L-R: John White, captain, Wesley Perry, Wm. Woodward, Arvel Christensen, Earl Smith. Back L-R: Alton Fisher, Max W. Woodbury, manager, Elmer Farrar, coach, Verl Thorup

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1937-38. Front Row, L-R: Paul Baldridge, Forward; Paul Wood, Guard; Jesse Hales, Guard; Bill Watson, Caption, Forward; Phil Thornton, Center; David Wallace, Guard; Victor Lyon, Forward; Paul Gines, Forward,. Back Row, L-R: Kenneth C. Burdett, Coach; Eugene Plumby, Forward; Wayne Christiansen, Guard; Done Jacobs, Guard; Monroe Pedersen, Center; Joseph B. Burdett, Manager

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1944. In the front row: Kenneth Burdett, coach, kneeling at the left side, front row; Superintendent Boyd Nelson standing behind Kenneth Burdett Player 2 Marlo Honey Player 7 Mike Patterakis Player 7 Kirk Allred Player 2 Merrill Bauer Player 4 Pete Koukasatkis In the back row, Superintendent Boyd Nelson, standing at left side; Max Woodbury, standing at right side Player 3 Bruce Eyre Player 8 Lloyd Perkins Player 9 Tony Jelaco Player 4 Paul Loveland Player 5 Melwin Sorenson Player 6 Sam Judd

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1948. The Utahan, 1948

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1953

The Utah School for the Deaf Cheerleading Team in 1953

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1954

The Utah School for the Deaf Volleyball Team in 1955. First row, L-R: Elaine Sprouse, Dixie Lee Larson, Laura Williams, Afton Curtis Burdett, Instructor; Romona Vasquez, Lawana Simmons. Second Row, L-R: Carola Sell, Lois Williams, Virginia Brown, Darlene Green, Beverly Squire, Dorothy Mahoney. Third Row, L-R: Sue Wessman, Betty Jo Alldredge, Judy Jenkins, Gayle Marlow, Ilene Coles, Lucile Simmons

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1955-56

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1957

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1958

For a while, the Utah Association of the Deaf (UAD) had expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of coach at the Utah School for the Deaf. Finally, in April 1959, Jerry Taylor, a recent graduate of Gallaudet College with a major in Physical Education, was hired as the Utah School for the Deaf's director of physical education and athletic coach (Tegeder, The Utah Eagle, October 1958; Sanderson, UAD Bulletin, April 1959). UAD thought there would be room for advancement when he was hired, because championships were usually the result of a combination of good equipment and strong coaching. Even though Idaho and Colorado had excellent athletic students and great coaches, Jerry's drive and enthusiasm for progress never wavered (Sanderson, UAD Bulletin, April 1959). He made a strong impression on the UAD. He went on to become the school's athletic director, successfully directing USD's athletic programs.

Over the years, cross country, volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, cheerleading, track, and pep club were among the sports offered at USD, as depicted in the photos below. The vibration of the drum was used to start a game.

Jerry Taylor

Did You Know?

When the Utah School for the Deaf became affiliated with the University of Utah (U of U) in the late 1800s, there were numerous football games between the deaf school boys and university students. While they shared a campus, athletic events became the primary means of interaction between USD and U of U students. The boys played football games among themselves after USD moved to Ogden, Utah. They asked the team from the Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, to play in Ogden on at least one occasion (Roberts, 1994).

The Impact of the "Y" System on Athletic Programs
at the Utah School for the Deaf

Under the leadership of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, an enthusiastic champion of oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students, Utah's trend toward mainstreaming increased rapidly in the 1960s. Dr. Bitter's efforts resulted in a new policy at the Utah School for the Deaf that adopted the Dual Division, commonly known as "Y" system. All Deaf and hard of hearing children were required to begin their education in the Oral Division, and they could not move to the Simultaneous Communication Division until they were 11 or in sixth grade. The Ogden campus was divided, with each Oral and Simultaneous Communication (later renamed Total Communication) Division having its own classrooms, dormitory facilities, recess, and co-curricular activities, with the exception of sporting programs (The Utah Eagle, February 1968; The Ogden Standard-Examiner, October 19, 1970). Only sporting programs provided a social opportunity due to a shortage of students from both the Oral and Simultaneous Communication Divisions (The Utah Eagle, February 1968; Dale R. Cook, Paul Arthur, and Linda (Snodgrass) James, personal communication, May 29, 2011). At the time, the signing team's coach was Jerry Taylor, and the oral team's coach was Bert Chaston, a staff member of the Oral Department (Ruth Taylor, personal communication, February 11, 2015). For further details on the Dual Program at the Utah School for the Deaf, visit "Dr. Robert G. Sanderson's Dream" webpage.

Dr. Grant B. Bitter. The Utah Eagle, October 1962

While all of this was going on at the USD, the Utah Association of the Deaf addressed in 1962 that they supported a fair test of the Dual Program at the Utah School for the Deaf as a classroom matter. They, however, expressed strong opposition to the attempt to cripple the athletics program (UAD Bulletin, Fall-Winter 1962, p. 2-3).

In his memoirs, Kenneth L. Kinner, a 1954 USD alumnus and father of two Deaf children, Deanne, class of 1979 and Duane, a USD product and Class of 1991 from Idaho School for the Deaf, shared that in the 1970s, the mother of an oral girl insisted that her daughter be moved to Ben Lomond High School, which was part of the USD extension program and was located between 7th and 9th Streets and Harrison Blvd. The other parents requested the same Ben Lomond High School option in response to the mother's campaign. Their preference for their children was to attend common social activities and sports with hearing peers. They urged their best prepared children for integration into mainstream society. As a result, the USD athletic programs were crippled, just as UAD predicted. When Ben Lomond High School grew overcrowded, some students transferred to Ogden High School for two years, from 1973 to 1975. Some oral students participated in hearing sports teams, while others did not. Only one oral student, Bruce Aldridge, had his parents' consent to participate in USD sports (Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2010).

Kenneth L. Kinner

The Sports Programs at the Utah School for the Deaf
from 1959 to 1976

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1959

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1961-62

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1962-63

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1963-64

The Utah School for the Deaf Football Team in 1967

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1967-68

The Utah School for the Deaf Football Team in 1968

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1968-69

The Utah School for the Deaf Track Team in 1969

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1969-70

The Utah School for the Deaf Football Team in 1970, won 2nd place

The Utah School for the Deaf Track Team in 1970. Jerry Taylor (L), Total Communication Coach and Bert Chaston (R), Oral Coach

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1970-71

The Utah School for the Deaf Football Team in 1970s

The Utah School for the Deaf Track Team in 1976

The Utah School for the Deaf Participates
in the Western State Basketball Classic Tournament

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a small number of USD basketball players from the Total Communication Division were able to compete in the Western State Basketball Classic (WSBC), a basketball tournament for teams with Deaf players. California School for the Deaf-Riverside, California School for the Deaf-Fremont, Oregon School for the Deaf, Washington School for the Deaf, Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind, and Phoenix Day School for the Deaf were usually among the eight teams. Participants in the past were Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, Marlton School, a Los Angeles-based program for Deaf students, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, and New Mexico School for the Deaf. The competition was hosted by each school in turn.

The tournament provided an opportunity for USD basketball teams to interact with their peers from several state schools for the deaf before, during, and after games. Not only were there basketball games between the eight boys' and eight girls' teams, as well as competition between the cheering teams from the participating schools, but WSBC also provided social events for the participants. Meetings with the superintendents of the eight schools (who tended to show up) and the athletic directors of the institutions were also held. Fans from the Deaf community flocked to watch the games. Every year, students from the schools look forward to competing against their peers while communicating in American Sign Language, which is their natural language.

The Impact of Mainstreaming on
Athletic Programs at the Utah School for the Deaf

The number of USD students, on the other hand, declined as a result of mainstreaming. After Jerry Taylor's retirement as athletic director in 1987, Mike Hillstrom took over as coach. All sports, except for basketball and volleyball, were eventually phased out. During Mike Hillstrom's two-year tenure as coach, the sports program only had a junior varsity basketball team, with Tintic High School serving as the varsity team in 1986 and 1987. Teams from Tintic High School, Rowland Hall High School, Dugway High School, and Rich County High School competed against other small schools across the state. There weren't many basketball teams with perfect records at the time, and USD was one of them. It was a 0-10 score. Although many games were close, no one won. USD was dropped from the Utah High School Athletic Athletic Association the following year, in 1987-88, due to its low numbers and struggling situation. Instead, the team was sent to the Christian Athletic Association (CAA). The games were held at the USDB campus in Ogden, near 20th and Monroe, and the competition was fair. They also participated in a volleyball league put on by the CAA. "Due to the ongoing decline in numbers, the athletic programs were closed during the years 1988–1989," said Mike Hillstrom (Mike Hillstrom, personal communication, May 30, 2014). More information about "Dr. Robert G. Sanderson's Mainstreaming Perspective" can be found on this webpage.

Mike Hillstrom

The Deaf community in Utah was devastated when the athletics program was closed down. The Deaf community as a whole has had a longer and more "widespread" involvement in athletics than many other communities. Basketball, softball, ice hockey, and handball all had national sports organizations with regional connections. Each state had its own statewide sports organization. Local chapters of state sports organizations were also present in some states.

While mainstreaming has grown in popularity since the 1960s, this instance explains why integration in a mainstreamed setting was widespread in Utah. Utah's darkest chapter in deaf education was the implementation of the Dual Program and mainstreaming. The Ogden residential campus was closed in 1993 due to the increased number of Deaf students attending public schools. When the Utah School for the Deaf and the Utah School for the Blind consolidated on a new campus at 742 Harrison Boulevard in Ogden, Utah, this residential setting was closed (Leers, November 1, 1988, p. B1; Deseret News, November 4, 1988; Bannister, UAD Bulletin, February 1989). After the move in 1993, all of the school's sports trophies vanished. Jerry Taylor had no idea where they were (Jerry Taylor, personal communication, February 2012).

Following the closure of USD's athletic programs in 1989, the local Deaf population, notably former USD mainstreamed students, continued to participate in Deaf sports outside of school. Many Deaf people in Utah joined local sports organizations like the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf and the Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf. Members of the Utah Deaf community also competed on regional and national sports teams. Far West Athletic Association of the Deaf, Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf, American Athletic Association of the Deaf, and USA Deaf Sports Federation were the four organizations.

Did You Know?

In about 1895, the Utah School for the Deaf added a physical education program in Salt Lake City, Utah. After moving to Ogden, Utah in 1896, the school built a gymnasium and hired a physical education instructor (Roberts, 1994).

The Rebirth of the Athletic Programs
at the Utah School for the Deaf

Shortly after the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) merged with the Utah School for the Deaf in 2005, Julio Diaz, a sports enthusiast, 1983 alumnus of the Florida School for the Deaf, and the husband of JMS co-founder Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz, as well as the father of three Deaf children, requested a restatement of the athletics program, which was approved by Linda Rutledge, superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

Julio Diaz

One year later, in 2006, Julio Diaz' hardwork paid off. The Utah High School Activities Association board of trustees revived activities and athletics for Deaf and blind students regardless of where they attended school, seventeen years after the athletic programs were closed in 1989. The USDB teams were finally allowed to use students from any high school as long as they were designated as students using their services by the board (Donaldson, Deseret News, March 6, 2007). It was not easy to build athletic programs from the ground up at USD, and it took a long time. It went through some growing pains along the road.

According to Mike Hillstrom, a long-time teacher at the Utah School for the Deaf and USD activities director." In the past, when USD had 200 students living in a residential setting, they used to field fairly large teams." However, in the late 1980s, an increasing number of students attended public schools where the USD began providing its services and teachers in those high schools, rather than requiring students to live away from their families on an Ogden Residential campus. As a result, the school's residential part was getting smaller and smaller, which led to activities and athletics programs dying as students transferred away from campuses (Donaldson, Deseret News, March 6, 2007). He hoped that in the future, sporting opportunities would expand.

However, during the 2008-2009 school year, the USDB was hit with a $2.25 million budget cut under the administration of Interim Superintendent Timothy W. Smith. At the time, he didn't realize or recognize the value of the athletic programs, so he moved to discontinue it. He was persuaded not to close it by members of the Utah Deaf community. Superintendent Smith agreed to reinstate the athletic program, with Deaf volunteers helping out in volleyball, basketball, and track & field.

Timothy W. Smith

After two years of planning, in 2008, the USD boys' and girls' basketball teams finally competed in a national tournament in Oregon. According to Jen Byrnes, an alumna of the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Deafhead coach of the girls' basketball team, the event was an eye-opener for USD athletes. "The girls were in a national environment," she explained. They're so isolated that it was the first time for several of them to see conversations among the Deaf population. "Hey, they're teens just like us," they said. They're discussing boys and school." They gain access to a larger community. "Some of the students have identity issues," said Craig Radford, the Deaf USD head boys' coach. "Being part of the larger community helps them build more confidence as Deaf individuals." Radford and Byrnes agreed that the teams' skills improved and that the students are now receiving more excellent community support as individuals associated with the school become accustomed to the idea that sports are returning to USD (Sights & Sounds, May 2008).

Craig Radford

For the Utah Deaf community, it was a dream come true! Since then, USD and JMS students have engaged in sporting programs despite budget constraints and a small number of students. More coaches stepped forward to help. More mainstreamed students practiced and played games at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. How fortunate they were to have access to the gym!

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball team with Craig Radford, Head Coach (far left) and two Assistant Coaches, Brain Thornberry and Keith Mischo (far right) in 2008-2009

Craig Radford, the Head Coach speaking with his USD team in 2008-2009

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball team in 2009 with Craig Radford as head coach and Keith Mischo as an assistant coach in 2009-2010

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball team with Jen Byrnes as the Head Coach in 2009-2010

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball team with Craig Radford as head coach and Matt Cesar as an assistant coach in 2011-2012

Did You Know?

Sports have long been a big part of the Deaf community. Deaf children enjoyed competing in sports with fellow Deaf students while attending schools for the deaf around the country, including the Utah School for the Deaf. As a result, USD graduates in the local Deaf community wanted mainstreamed students to have the same opportunities at the Utah Community Center for the Deaf (later renamed the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). Norman Williams, a 1962 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf, visited numerous gyms to prepare for the architect's sketch of the proposed building plans. He couldn't find one that he liked, much to his dismay. Finally, Norman paid a visit to the Idaho School for the Deaf, which boasted a brand new full-size basketball court with bleachers. He was impressed with the size of that gym and recommended that the center follow suit. As a result, the gym was built to accommodate a basketball court with movable bleachers (Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2008; Norman Williams, personal communication, May 8, 2012). They aimed to make sports available to sports fans who would not have equal access to a public school athletics program.

Norman Williams. Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf: 50th Anniversary Celebration 1947–1997 Program Book

The Rebirth of the Western States Basketball Classic
at the Utah School for the Deaf

The Western States Basketball Classic (WSBC) has been held since the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it wasn't until 2007 that USD returned to the tournament after another state school or the school for the deaf had to withdraw due to a lack of students to form a team. USD has competed in four classics since then, and they needed to maintain their WSBC spot. Unfortunately, each year, only eight schools are invited. If one leaves, another comes in to fill the void. Returning to the competition will be challenging for the school..

The teams, which practiced and played games at the Sanderson Community Center gym, were open to JMS students. In 2009, the USD was invited back to the Western States Basketball Classic (WBSC), where students were able to connect and learn while competing against seven other state schools for the deaf. In the March 2009 issue of the UAD Bulletin, Mike Hillstrom reported that twenty-five students attended WSBC and that "it had become an event that was so worthwhile that I see it as life-changing" (Hillstrom, UAD Bulletin, March 2009).

During the Great Recession of 2008–2012, Julio Diaz reported that the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind was in dire financial straits in 2012, with numerous challenges to surmount. Jill Radford, then principal of Jean Massieu School, was informed by Dr. Jennifer Howell, then Associate Superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf, that USD would have to withdraw from the competition. Jill Radford, an alumna of the Idaho School for the Deaf, offered to volunteer to take over the 2011 WSBC rather than have USDB cancel it on top of her other responsibilities, which included being the only full-time administrator in charge of 97 students from preschool through high school. She was willing to do so since she believed in the event and thought it would be a valuable experience for Deaf students. Jill Radford thought WSBC was a terrific way for Deaf students to compete in sports, socialize, and establish life-long friendships that would help them thrive in life, just like the rest of the Utah Deaf community. She also stated that the students and superintendents who met during the event benefited from WSBC. It also provided opportunities for Deaf students from small towns to interact with Deaf students from other areas, allowing them to recognize that there was a bigger world out there for them (Julio Diaz, personal communication, October 2010).

Jill Radford

Despite the financial challenges that USDB faced, Julio Diaz noted that Jill Radford and two chairpersons, Brian Thornsberry, USD Athletic Director and 1991 alumnus of the Idaho School for the Deaf, and Craig Radford, alumna of the Idaho School for the Deaf and a long-time volunteer high school basketball head coach, were able to host the 35th Annual Western States Basketball Classic in 2009. They worked extremely hard to ensure that the event went off without a hitch for everyone involved. It worked absolutely perfectly, said Julio (Julio Diaz, personal communication, October 2010).

Brian Thornsberry

According to Julio Diaz, USD's participation in the Utah High School Athletic Association (UHSAA) should be regarded as similar to that of a public high school. He believed that students at USD should be able to compete against other high school teams. To compete in the WSBC, USD must be a UHSAA member. Julio Diaz reminded Dr. Jennifer Howell that if a school left the UHSAA now, re-entry would be difficult. It would be difficult to fit the USD players into the teams' schedules already in place. Participation would be limited even if funding were restored and/or a new superintendent revived athletics. The UHSAA, like the WSBC, requires them to go through a lengthy and selective application process, which they may be unwilling to do given USD's history of non-commitment (Julio Diaz, personal communication, October 2010). Dr. Jennifer Howell, after much persuasion, agreed to keep the athletic programs running. Steven W. Noyce, an avid oral and mainstreaming advocate and former student of Dr. Bitter's oral training program, who went on to become the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in 2009 after years serving as a teacher and director of the school, is speculated to have put pressure on Dr. Howell to cancel the sporting events. He wasn't fond of the idea of sporting activities, believing that Deaf and hard of hearing students should participate in public school sports programs. The Utah Deaf community was victorious, and the USD sporting programs were saved.

Steven W. Noyce @ Twitter

The Utah School for the Deaf boys' and girls' basketball teams at the WSBC tournament in 2012-13. JMS Yearbook, 2012–13. Michelle Tanner, then principal of Jean Massieu School of the Deaf, went to the WSBC to support the USD team in 2012-13. JMS Yearbook, 2012-13

Six years later, in 2015, the Utah School for the Deaf hosted the Western State Basketball and Cheerleading Classics from January 28th to January 31st, 2015, at the Robert G. Sanderson Sanderson Community Center and Taylorsville High School after months of planning. Under the coaching of Deaf coach Wade Hester, the Utah School for the Deaf boys' team won the WSBC championship. In the championship game, the USD boys' team defeated Phoenix School for the Deaf 59 to 40 (Tanner, UAD Bulletin, February 2015; Montalette, UAD Bulletin, February 2015). Craig Radford, then the Director of Business Development at ZVRS, flew from Florida to Utah to support the USD boys' basketball team. While coaching this team for ten years, he knew the lads when they were younger. They had looked up to him as a mentor, teacher, and friend. Craig must be ecstatic to be watching such a championship match and seeing such a strong array of players.

Wade Hester (far right), Athletic Director/Coach with his Utah School for the Deaf boys’ team. UAD Bulletin, February 2015

The Utah School for the Deaf boys' and girls' basketball teams at the WSBC tournament in 2014-15. JMS Yearbook 2014-15

The Utah School for the Deaf Girl's Basketball team with Nemo Szpakowski as Head Coach and Stefanie Winkelman as an assistant coach, 2014-15. JMS Yearbook, 2014-15

The Utah School for the Deaf Cheerleading team in 2014-2015. JMS Yearbook, 2014-15

After Steven W. Noyce's contract expired in 2013, Joel Coleman, a former member of the Utah State Board of Education, took over as superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and appointed Michelle Tanner to the Deaf Education Program as an associate superintendent. The school's athletics program, fortunately, continued to expand and thrive under Coleman/Tanner's direction.

Since the inception of a sports program at USD in 2006, USD has competed in UHSAA-sponsored activities in the 1A region and the Western States Basketball & Cheerleading Classic every year. The most significant game of the season motivates student athletes since it is an important part of their entire Deaf experience. Deaf students compete against their teams from deaf schools across the western United States in this all-deaf sport, which allows them to connect with other deaf and hard of hearing students their age while also getting some exercise. Volleyball and cheerleading teams are also available at USD.

Michelle Tanner, USD Assoc. Supt; Joel Coleman, USDB Superintendent; Carolyn Lasater, USB Assoc. Supt @ Twitter.com

The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 2021-22 @ USDB website

The Utah School for the Deaf volleyball team in 2021-22. Ben Lee (far right) is the head coach @ USDB website

In conclusion, without Julio's work and the contributions of other volunteers such as Jill, Craig, and others, the athletics program would not be where it is now. Even if athletics are not part of the "official" curriculum, it is sufficient to say that students deserve the same opportunities as their hearing peers. Students have gained valuable lessons in discipline, sportsmanship, and physical control, among other things, through participation in sports. Most significantly, the social aspect of athletics allows students to develop leadership skills, work as a team, embrace and appreciate the discipline of regular practice and training, and recognize the need for good sportsmanship in their efforts. They are equally, if not more important than physical ones.

Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2014-2022

Note

The Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf is believed to have been founded in 1945, after Utah Deaf athletes competed as The Silent Club in the first Far West Athletic Association of the Deaf competition. The UACD logo features the year 1947.

John (Jack) F. White, a sports enthusiast, collated the majority of the historical material, which was published in the "Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf: 50th Anniversary Celebration 1947–1997" Program Book.

The Salt Lake Silent Club is Formed

The Salt Lake Silent Club, formed by John ("Jack") F. White, a 1932 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf, had sponsored a basketball team in the past. They'd compete against teams from Fort Douglas, a military training base near the University of Utah, as well as the Salt Lake City Fire and Police Departments and the Utah School for the Deaf. In 1945, they were given the opportunity to compete in out-of-state and regional competitions alongside their Deaf athletes. That same year, the Far West Athletic Association of the Deaf (FAAD) was formed to bring together and compete Deaf athletic clubs (White, 1997).

Art Kruger, a well-known Gallaudet College alumnus, founded the FAAD. The association covered Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, and Utah, as well as the rest of the western United States. In March 1946, Art asked Jack White, a Utah native and active club member, if the Salt Lake Silent Club would participate in the FAAD basketball competition in Los Angeles. He promised Jack $350 if the team agreed to compete in the event against other Deaf club teams. This presented Jack with a good opportunity, so he convened a meeting of ball players from Salt Lake City and Ogden (White, 1997).

John ("Jack") F. White

The Establishment of the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf

A group of ballplayers from Ogden and Salt Lake City gathered for a special meeting where Jack White informed them of Art Kruger's request and encouraged them to start a new club. He outlined the event and how it would help the squad create a competitive relationship with FAAD during the discussion. He then proposed renaming the team the "Salt Lake Athletic Club for the Deaf," but several of the players objected because they were from Ogden and felt the title did not accurately represent them all. Everyone continued to debate possible team names until "Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf," or UACD, was chosen. Jack was picked as vice-president and assistant coach, while George L. Laramie was chosen as president and coach. Larry Anderson was named secretary and treasurer (White, 1997).

George L. Laramie. The UAD Bulletin, Spring 1969

The newly established club needed a gym to practice in before the tournament in Los Angeles, California. Jack visited with a hearing acquaintance, John M. Knight, who happened to be the Salt Lake Police Commissioner, and requested permission for the UACD basketball team to practice and play games at the police precinct's basketball gym on State Street and First South. The request was met with approval. The team practiced in with the Salt Lake City Police Department, the Salt Lake Fire Department, Fort Douglas, and other teams and played games with them (White, 1997).

As the tournament date approached, a number of UACD players dropped out, leaving the team with only six members. Rather than panicking, Jack recognized a few potential candidates in the "woods" and sought out Edwin Ross Thurston. Hooper, Utah's Alton Fisher, and Boise, Idaho's Jack Downey (White, 1997).

Edwin Ross Thurston

The club's coach, George Laramie, was unable to join the team in Los Angeles. He was replaced by Jack White. The team, however, faced another problem: the players lacked the financial means to go to Los Angeles and stay in a hotel. Jack did not want his squad to miss out on a great opportunity to compete in an out-of-state tournament. So he decided to take $200 out of his savings to support his squad and cover the cost of a $22 round-trip Greyhound bus ticket and hotel bookings. Larry Anderson's car carried three of the players. During the tournament, Jack chose Ross Thurston to be the team's delegate. The team stopped in Las Vegas on their route to Los Angeles. "It was simply a small town with a general store and a motel," Jack recalled. They boarded the bus to Los Angeles, excited to compete against other Deaf clubs (White, 1997).

The Utah team was defeated by the Berkeley Club in the first game, but won the next two. As a result, UACD was awarded the consolation title. The UACD, on the other hand, lost four of its top players to the Los Angeles Club for the Deaf (White, 1997).

The tournament secretary, Art Kruger, maintained his word and gave UACD $350 from the tournament cash. Jack received $200 of the sum, with the remaining $150 going to the UACD treasury.

The FAAD basketball tournament was held in Oakland, California in 1947, with UACD winning the consolation bracket, defeating Hollywood 46-44 and San Francisco 32-15. For the second straight year, Los Angeles was crowned FAAD champion. Jack coached the UACD team once again. Apart from winning the consolation championship, UACD won the bid to host the 1948 tournament in Salt Lake City on February 27 and 28.

The Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf team in Oakland, California, 1947

Ross Thurston was chosen as the chairman of the 1948 FAAD competition in Salt Lake City. Ross then set about forming a committee. Larry Anderson (secretary & program), John "Jack" F. White (entertainment), Rodney Walker (treasurer), Eugene Plumby (trophies), George L. Laramie (reservations), Earl P. Smith (concessions), Joseph Burnett (entertainment for the Ogden Division), and Earl Rogerson (entertainment for the Ogden Division) made up the committee (tickets). Verl W. Thorup (chairman), Catherine J. Morgan, and Gladys Hind were also members of the UACD Board of Trustees. The games took place at the Deseret Gymnasium, which is located at 37 College Place. The gym was booked and paid for two nights for a total of $200. The committee and the UACD sold many raffle tickets and held several parties and dinners to raise funds for the tournament on the plaza where the large water fountain now stands, between State and Main Streets and South and North Temple Streets, behind the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and near the current Church Office Building (White, 1997; Gary L. Leavitt, personal communication, 1995; Walker, 2006).

The Utah Athletics Club of the Deaf Team at the Far West Athletic Association of the Deaf Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, 1948. Standing L-R: Eugene Phumby (Coach), Lloyd Perkins, Larry Anderson, Clem Sefvy, Phil Thornton, Don Jacobs, Shirley Barney, Jack White (manager). Seated L-R: Ronald Bess, Paul Gines, Paul Wood, Kird Allred, Bruce Eyre

In 1957, UACD left the FAAD region to join the newly formed Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf (NWAAD), although the players were responsible for their own transportation, hotel, and meals. The team visited California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Canada in 1957 (White, 1997).

Jack White’s Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf Records

Rodney W. Walker was elected president of the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf in 1958 as a result of his curiosity and an offer to attend a meeting of the UACD; he maintained the position for ten years. He proposed that they launch a UACD newsletter for members, and he chose his first wife, Georgia Hendricks Walker, to serve as editor and publisher. The annual dues were one dollar. To a total of 175, the number of members climbed three or fourfold. Although new members were not required to participate in activities such as basketball, bowling, or softball, the newsletter was the reason for the growth in membership (Walker, 2006).

Rodney W. Walker. The Utah Eagle, April 1955

Gerogia Henricks Walker

The Utah Athletics Club of the Deaf team at the Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1962. Front row L-R: R: .J. Christensen, R. Bess, R. Potter, K. Stewart, R. Kerr; 2nd Row L-R: R. Johnston, R. Bonnell, V. Jones, A. Valdez; 3rd row, L-R: R. Loveland, K. Nelson, L. Curtis, B. Harvey, John F. White (manager/coach)

The UAD Bulletin, Spring 1962

The UACD team competed in the Oakland tournament in 1964, winning the NWAAD championship and earning the right to compete in the American Athletic Association of the Deaf tournament in Philadelphia. The coach was Leon Curtis, and the assistant coach and manager was John F. White. Despite losing three games and finishing eighth, the UACD team received a two-foot-tall sportsmanship plaque. The guys' crisp style of play drew a lot of applause (White, 1997).

The Utah Athletics Club of the Deaf team at the Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf Tournament, pose with trophies in Philadelphia, Penn in 1964. Kneeling L-R: R. Per·kins, E. Bell, B. Harvey, R. Cochran, Standing, L-R: L. Curtis, E. Pzybyla, N. Williams, R. Bonnell, J. Christensen, J. Murray, John F. White (asst. coach/manager)

Jay Christensen (standing) and Robert Bonnell (sitting)

1964 UCAD Basketball Team. District champs of Northern Athletic Association, pose with trophies: front from left, Roy Cochran, Roy Milborn, Carl Obson, middle: Bruce Harvey, Ronald Perkins, Leon Curtis, coach: Ed Bell, John White, manager: back, Norman Williams, Robert Bonnell, Jay Christensen, Eric Przybyla, and John Murray. The UAD Bulletin, February 1964

The Salt Lake Tribune, February 25, 1964

The Incorporation of the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf into the Utah State Laws

UACD was incorporated in 1970 under the laws of Utah. It is now affiliated with a number of regional and national organizations and actively promotes numerous Deaf sports in Utah. Softball, volleyball, flag football, golf, and skiing/snowboarding were eventually added to the UACD sports program.

The Utah Athletics Club of the Deaf team at the Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf Tournament, pose with trophies in Philadelphia, Penn in 1964. Kneeling, L-R: R. Perkins, E. Bell, B. Harvey, R. Cochran, Standing, L-R: Leon Curtis, E. Przybyla, N. Williams, R. Bonnell, J. Christensen, J. Murray, John F. White (asst. coach/manager)

The Utah Athletics Club of the Deaf team in the 1960s

UAD Bulletin, Winter 1970.

Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf Bowling. The members of the UACD gather to watch him bowl

The Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf Basketball Team, 1970s

The Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf Team, 1970s

Presidential Awards Given
to Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf

The 50th anniversary event was chaired by Nancy O'Brien. On September 27, 1997, it took place at the Ramada Inn in downtown Salt Lake City. Five Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf sportsmen's awards were presented during a ceremony. The Utah Association for the Deaf presented the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf with a Presidential Award in honor of the sports club's 50-year history. UACD secretary Nancy O'Brien accepted the award.

Nancy O'Brien. Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf: 50th Anniversary Celebration 1947–1997 Program Book

The President's Award, granted by the Utah Association for the Deaf, was given to the UACD women's basketball team in 2002 for their outstanding performance at the USA Deaf Basketball National Basketball (USADB) Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana. This was the first time a Utah women's basketball team had competed in the national tournament (UAD Bulletin, May 2002). Andrea Garff Anderson, a 1995 alumna of the Idaho School for the Deaf and basketball player for the UACD women's basketball team, accepted the award on their behalf (UAD Bulletin, September 2002).

Justin and Andrea (Garff) Anderson

President Justin Anderson of the
Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf Shares a Vision

My vision is to keep the legacy of strong and rich history of Utah Athletic to carry on and pass the traditions and success to the new leaders and athletes.

We want to keep the name of the oldest active Deaf athletic club in the USA.

We want to have a strong amateur sport organization for the Deaf people, especially for the youth.

In conclusion, the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf, primarily John "Jack" White, has made significant contributions that extend beyond sporting events. If it weren't for Jack, the UACD would not have thrived for long. This organization has brought athletes together for the purpose of not just staying healthy, but also meeting and connecting with Deaf people. Deaf sports have played an essential role in developing the Utah Deaf community.

Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2014-2022

In the fall of 1971, the Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf (GSACD) was discussed in the locker room of the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden Utah. After spending several years with the Utah Sports Club of the Deaf in Salt Lake City, Utah a group of basketball players explored starting their own athletic club in the Ogden region. By commuting to Salt Lake City and back to Ogden, a new club in Ogden would assist in saving time and money for Ogden players. The club was founded by G. Leon Curtis and Dennis Platt. Platt suggested that a new club be named Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf (GSACD) for the region where Ogden was under the Golden Spike Empire (Tenth Anniversary Celebration Program Book; Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf: 25th Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

G. Leon Curtis. The UAD Bulletin, Winter 1964

The first meeting was held at the Weber County Library on January 20, 1972. C. Roy Cochran was elected as the organization's first president, followed by Ronald Johnston as vice president, Dennis Platt as secretary, and Tom Starkey as treasurer. The first night, they raised $25.00. (Tenth Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

GSACD, like the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf, became one of the most well-known clubs in the NorthWest Athletic Association of the Deaf (NWAAD) region, which includes Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington State, Northern California, and western Canada, including Vancouver, B.C. and Edmonton (Tenth Anniversary Celebration Program Book). GSACD was also a long-standing member of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf.

GSACD hosted a variety of events for its members, including horseshoe, volleyball, softball, and golf competitions. For many years, club members, both men and women, competed in the Ogden City softball league in order to prepare for the annual NWAAD softball tournament (Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf 25th Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

Dennis Platt, UAD President. UAD Bulletin,Winter 1970

The UACD hosted the 1974 NWAAD softball tournament when the NWAAD established a new sport, softball. GSACD advanced to the finals and faced defending champion Seattle, but lost and had to settle for second place (Tenth Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

GSACD hosted five Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf tournaments in 1978, 1986, 1992, and 1996 for softball and 1980 for basketball (Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf 25th Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

GSACD lost the first game of the 1980 basketball tournament to Sacramento, 57-54, despite Nathaniel Cannon of GSACD scoring 40 points. It was the tournament's highest score. After that, GSACD took home the consolation trophy (5th place). Nathaniel Cannon scored 92 points in the tournament games for GSACD, earning him a spot on the First Team NWAAD All-Star team. He was one vote away from being named MVP of the tournament (Tenth Anniversary Celebration Program Book).

GSACD eventually become a place for families and athletes to socialize and have fun. This club had two goals: physical activities and sports for people of all ages. Attending an ice hockey game, tubing, roller skating, bowling, playing volleyball, basketball, and softball, swimming, and camping were among the monthly activities available. Picnics, holiday parties, and movie screenings were some of the activities that the club members participated in.

Wasatch Golf Association of the Deaf

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
2012

On September 13, 1980, at Schneiter's Riverside Golf Course in Ogden, Utah, the Wasatch Golf Association of the Deaf (WGAD) was founded. "Why don't we establish a deaf club for golf?" One day, George Wilding proposed to his friends Robert DeSpain, Dennis Platt, and Fred Bass. That was something they all agreed on right away.

The goal of forming this organization was to capture the interest of the Utah Deaf community in golf. The monthly golf outings took place at a variety of golf holes in northern Utah, the Salt Lake area, and Eagle Mountain.

The Robert G. DeSpain Memorial Tournament is named after one of the WGAD's co-founders, Robert G. DeSpain. Anyone can join WGAD to play for fun, but players must play 5 rounds with a WGAD member to qualify for the Robert Despain Memorial Tournament.

WGAD organized the tournaments, and competitors also competed in the DeafNation Golf Classic for a chance to win a reward.

George Wilding

16th Winter Deaflympics in Utah

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2014-2022

The 16th Winter Deaflympics were held in Utah from February 1 to 10, 2007. On the basis of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) chose Utah to host the Deaflympics for three reasons: 1. the availability of world-class winter sports competition venues; 2. Utah's reputation for having the best snow on earth; and 3. an excellent pool of enthusiastic Deaf and hearing communities (Ingham, 2007).

The Winter Deaflympics began in 1924 and are the world's second-oldest international sporting event, following the 1896 Olympics Games (Ingham, 2007). "Deaf athletes are considered able-bodied under Olympic Committee rules and are not allowed to participate in the Paralympics, but communication barriers keep them from fully participating in the able-bodied Olympics," said Dr. I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University and Honorary Co-chairperson of the 16th Winter Deaflympics, at a press conference at the Governor's Mansion of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. in 2005. (Jarvik, Deseret News, February 17, 2005). "To be a Deaf snowboarder in a race with hearing racers is, in a single word, lonely," said Jeff Pollock, a 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015 Deaflympics snowboarder. "There are physical hurdles to being a Deaf athlete at tournaments such as what some refer to as "the hearing Olympics," he noted (Jarvik, Deseret News, January 31, 2007). Deaf athletes are at a disadvantage in sports like ski racing and ice hockey because they can't hear the referee's whistle or the starting gun that signals them to exit the gate, according to Jeff. Instead, athletes at the Deaflympics are guided by flashing lights, hand signals, and flags (Jarvik, Deseret News, February 17, 2005).

Jeff Pollock relaxes at Brighton Ski Resort. Keith Johnson, Deseret Morning News

In the Deaf community, the Deaflympics are held in high regard. The Organizing Committee included Edward Ingham, Secretary-GeneraI of this committee, who lived in Utah at the time. According to him, "The Deaflympics are one of the two largest international Deaf events, fostering international connections via the exchange of interests and experiences." The Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf is the other event. Participants in international Deaf events, unlike those at hearing international events, tend to be able to speak with one another without the use of interpreters. This is due to the fact that their national sign languages have many linguistic characteristics. Because of the ease of communication and shared experiences, participants who attend the Deaflympics and the World Federation of the Deaf Congress form very deep worldwide friendships (Ingham, 2007).

Edward Ingham. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and Ronald C. Burdett, both Utah residents, were appointed to the 16th Winter Deaflympics Board of Directors at the time. Dennis and Shirley Platt, Valerie Kinney, Eleanor "Eli" McCowan, Wendy Osterling, Justin Anderson, Jon Hodson, Scott and Adele Sigoda, Keith Mischo, Susan Stokes, and Barbara Bass, all Deaf volunteers in Utah, joined the committee to complete the task.

Dr. Robert G. Sanderson. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Ronald C. Burdett. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Dennis Platt. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Shirley Platt. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Valerie G. Kinney. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Jon Hudson. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

Wendy Osterling. 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

At the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Utah, 400 participants representing 25 countries competed in a variety of sign languages. According to Jeff Pollock (Jarvik, Deseret News, January 31, 2007), the athletes used International Sign Language, which is a blend of numerous signs and motions from different signed languages, so communication hurdles were minimal. Representatives from all over the world competed for gold, silver, and bronze medals in five of the most popular winter sports: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and curling, according to Ben Soukup, chairman of the 16th Winter Deaflympics Board of Directors. He described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the world's best Deaf athletes to compete for world-class status (Soukup, 2007).

Ben Soukup @ 16th Winter Deaflympics Program Book, 2007

At last, Utah was privileged to host the 16th Winter Deaflympics, which allowed them to display their "Greatest Snow on Earth." Not only that, but Salt Lake City is the first city in the world to hold all three International Olympic Committee sanctioned games-the Olympics, Paralympics, and Deaflympics. The Deaflympics were a historic event that left visitors from around the world with positive memories.

Jeff Pollock rides his slalom snowboard at Brighton. He won medals in 1999 and 2003 Deaflympics. Keith Johnson, Deseret Morning News

Dennis Platt as Torchbearer

Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2015-2022

A panel of Ogden and Weber County community leaders chose Dennis Platt, a well-known leader in the Utah Deaf community and a long-time officer of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD), to carry the Olympic Flame in 1996. Dennis was chosen as torchbearer in his Ogden region out of 5,500 people because he met four key judgment criteria:

Outstanding volunteer work,
Community leader, role model or mentor,
Acts of generosity or kindness, and
Extraordinary feats or accomplishments, locally or nationally (UAD Bulletin, February 1996; Shirley Platt, personal communication, January 6, 2015).

Dennis carried the Olympic torch from 34th to 37th Streets on Washington Boulevard on May 10, 1996, bringing the Olympic spirit to the Deaf community in Ogden, Utah. For the 15 minutes of glory, his granddaughter, Marissa Tarbet, flew the Olympic flag in front of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf offices on 36th Street (UAD Bulletin, July 1996, p. 11).

Dennis was extremely dedicated to the AAAD, and he provided a long list of voluntary services to the organization. Dennis was inducted into the AAAD Hall of Fame as a leader in 1999. He has served on AAAD committees and in various offices over the past twenty-five years. Dennis had "preserved in his constant and ongoing efforts to turn the AAAD into a powerful, dynamic national organization" in order to benefit Deaf people who participated in AAAD sports events (UAD Bulletin, December 1999, p. 5). Among his many contributions to the AAAD are:

AAAD Vice President of NSOs (1991-1994)
AAAD Vice President for Financial Affairs (1994 – 1997)
AAAD Ad Hoc Committee to establish women’s softball
AAAD Restructuring Committee
AAAD Law Committee member (eight years)
AAAD Board of Director member (1980 – 1997
AAAD Basketball/Softball Commissioner
AAAD Regional President’s Round Table (three years)
AAAD Grants and Planning Committee member
AAAD Audit Committee member
AAAD Games Preparation Committee member

Dennis Platt

According to the December 1999 issue of the UAD Bulletin, "Dennis worked for the AAAD during the difficult restructuring years, when several National Sports Organizations (NSOs) were "banned," and when the organization's finances were in jeopardy. Instead of taking opposing political positions, he preferred to discreetly continue the organization's "housekeeping" duties, completing the tasks that were required to keep the organization running while others were in the spotlight supporting one political agenda or the other" (UAD Bulletin, December 1999, p. 5).

In addition to his AAAD involvement, Dennis was a leader in the Northwest Association of the Deaf (NWAAD). He was the recording secretary, president, and chairman of two regional basketball tournaments, as well as one regional softball tournament, between 1978 and 1997. He was the first person in any region to use computers to record tournament results. He received the NWAAD Hall of Fame induction in 1990 (UAD Bulletin, December 1999, p. 5).

After twenty-eight years of dedicated service to Deaf sports, Dennis retired in 2002 (Shirley Platt, personal communication, January 6, 2015).

Dennis Platt carrying the Olympic torch

Ultimately, Dennis deserves attention for his lengthy history of voluntary contributions to organizations such as the American Athletic Association of the Deaf, Northwest Association of the Deaf, and Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf, all of which he does with a humble and low key approach. In addition to participating in sports organizations, he served on multiple committees and in various offices for the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf's Ogden Division #127, the Utah Association for the Deaf, and the USDB Institutional Council. We owe Dennis a debt of gratitude for his selfless contributions to the Utah Deaf Community.

Utah Deaf Athletes

Marvin J. Marhall, Deaf Boxer

Marvin J. Marshall was a boxer who was deaf. He began boxing in 1930. "I grew fascinated with the sport of boxing," he stated. He was a seasoned boxer in his native state while attending the Utah School for the Deaf. He fought for the first time at the age of ten and went on to fight in county fairs, festivals, boys' clubs, and athletic shows all throughout the country. He won the Utah Golden Glove 112-pound championship in 1936. (Strassler, Recreation & Sports).

Marvin J. Marshall @ Utah Eagle, 1942

Marvin graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1942. While attending Gallaudet College, he continued to box and coach a group of Gallaudet boxers as part of his double-duty as a competitor and a coach. He retired after graduating. According to him, "I've always believed that a deaf person should never enter a boxing ring without first preparing oneself. With just one punch, one could lose an eye " (Strassler, Recreation & Sports).

In the 1940s, Marvin won the local Golden Gloves boxing title and competed in the national Golden Gloves tournament in Washington, D.C. During his boxing career, he competed in around 500 amateur boxing fights (Gallaudet University, Wikipedia).

Marvin was inducted into the Gallaudet Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 in honor of his boxing accomplishments at Gallaudet College (Strassler, Recreation & Sports).

Marshall was recognized and honored as an athlete by the USA Deaf Sports Federation Hall of Fame in 2001 (USDeafSports.org).

The boxers under charge of Marvin Marshall who entered the Golden Golves are, from left to right: Edward bowman, Paul Kulas, Marvin Marshall, Bruce Eyre, Tony Jelaco, Donnie Warnick, Jerry Ryan and Lee Shepherd, 1938

Paul Franklin Baldridge, Gallaudet's Athlete

In the 1940s, Paul Franklin Baldridge was a Gallaudet athlete. In 1938, he graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf. He was a member of the renowned "Five Iron Men" on the basketball team at Gallaudet College in 1943. From 1942 to 1944, he was also the team's captain. In 1944, he received his bachelor's degree from Gallaudet College (GallaudetAthletics.com).

Paul graduated from Gallaudet College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944, where he lettered in various sports. He was also a member and officer of a number of academic and social organizations. In 1953, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master of Education degree. Paul began a 46-year career as a teacher and coach at Gallaudet College, the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, the Missouri School for the Deaf, and the Indiana School for the Deaf, where he influenced and inspired numerous young Deaf people (Obituary: Paul Baldridge).

Baldridge was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf in 1998 for coaching (GallaudetAthletics.com).

Paul Baldridge @ GallaudetAthletics.com

Connie Johnston, Deaf Trackster

The best Deaf female track and field athlete in the United States was Connie Johnston of Ogden, Utah. She won the heptathlon, 4x400 relay, and high jump in the 1985 World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles, California. Connie won three gold medals and broke four world records for deaf athletes. Since then, she has shattered her own record (UAD Bulletin, November 1988).

Connie was inducted into the USA Deaf Sports Federation Hall of Fame as a track and field athlete in 2005 (USDeafSports.org).

Connie Johnston @ www.usadtf.org

Jeff W. Pollock, Deaflympics Snowboarder

Former Deaflympics Snowboarder Jeff W. Pollock enjoys snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, motorcycling, and any other sport that requires him to stand or sit on something while moving quickly! He relocated to Utah from Michigan in 1994 to pursue his passion for outdoor activities.

Since its inception in 1998, Jeff has been a member of the U.S. Deaf Snowboard Team. In the last three winter Deaflympics, he has won four medals, as well as other medals in local and national USASA championships.

Jeff has also competed in three Deaflympics (1999 in Davos, Switzerland; 2003 in Sundsvall, Sweden; and 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah), and would have competed in 2011 in Vysoke, Slovakia if it hadn't been cancelled.

"To be a Deaf snowboarder in a race with hearing racers is, in a single word, lonely," Jeff said in 2007, when the 16th Winter Deaflympics took place in Utah. "There are physical challenges to being a Deaf athlete at competitions like what some refer to as "the hearing Olympics," he noted (Jarvik, Deseret News, January 31, 2007). Deaf athletes are at a disadvantage in sports like skiing and ice hockey because they can't hear the referee's whistle or the starting gun that alerts them to leave the starting gate, according to Jeff. Instead, athletes at the Deaflympics are guided by flashing lights, hand signals, and flags (Jarvik, Deseret News, February 17, 2005).

Jeff W. Pollock @ Sorensen VRS

Jacob Buzianis, Deaf Kiteboarder

Jacob Buzianis is a kiteboarder who is deaf. He got his first kiteboarding lesson on a beach in Maui, according to his website, and was instantly hooked!

Jacob rode every opportunity he got after that. He returned to Utah and began working on year-round kiting and snowkiting opportunities. He began to explore other areas near his home. He was able to transfer his snow abilities to his kite, trading long lift lines and expensive season passes for vast open areas, endless terrain, and very sick powder...all while being pushed around by the wind all day.

Jacob is constantly on the lookout for new kiting/snowkiting spots across the United States. There are a variety of fantastic spots to ride that are usually close to major cities. Strawberry Reservoir, Powder Mountain, the Uintahs, Wasatch, Park City, Alaska, and Wyoming are some of his favorite places.

Jacob's enthusiasm for the sport has remained as great as it was on his first day out. He is able to push himself to new boundaries and take on new challenges every day. Come along with me on the ride...there is nothing better than feeling the wind behind you and sharing epic sessions with friends," he said.

Jacob has a fantastic kiteboarding website with lots of photographs and videos.

Jacob Buzianis @ utahsnowkite.com

Aimee Walker Pond, Deaf Gymnast

Aimee Walker Pond is a former Deaf gymnast for the United States. She was born blind in one eye and deaf in the other. She's been doing gymnastics since she was seven years old. She is one of the rare gymnasts with disabilities who has competed at both the national and international levels, having graduated from Brigham Young University. "Attitude is everything," she remarked, "and that's part of the challenge" (Taylor, Deseret News, January 26, 2016).

Aimee is currently married and the mother of four children. She and her husband, Derek, own Champions Sports Center, a multi-sport and leisure center in Saratoga Springs that also offers fitness programs.

In 2015, Aimee Walker-"No Pond's Excuses: The Story of Elite Gymnastic Aimee Walker-Pond" was published by Impact Publishing. More information, photographs, and video clips about the film may be found at impact-publishing.com.

Aimee Walker-Pond @ The Daily Universe

ARCHIVES

Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf 50th Anniversary Celebration 1947-1997

Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf 25th Anniversary Celebration January 20, 1972 - January 18, 1997

Note

Dale R. Cook, Paul Arthur, and Linda (Snodgrass) James, e-mail message to Jodi B. Kinner, May 29, 2011.

Gary L. Leavitt, personal communication, 1995.

Jerry Taylor, personal communication, February 2012.

Julio Diaz, personal communication, October 2010.

Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2008.

Kenneth L. Kinner, personal communication, 2010.

Norman Williams, e-mail message to Jodi B. Kinner, May 8, 2012.

Mike Hillstrom, e-mail message to Jodi B. Kinner, May 30, 2014.

Ruth Taylor, personal communication, February 11, 2015.

Shirley Platt, personal communication, January 6, 2015.

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Gallaudet University, Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallaudet_University

Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf: 25th Anniversary Celebration. January 20, 1972 – January 18, 1997.

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Leers, Twila V. “Consolidation of Schools for the Deaf, Blind ok’d.” Deseret News (November 4, 1988): B1.

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Paul Baldridge: Obituary

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Taylor, Madison Swensen. "No Excuses' tells gymnast Aimee Walker-Pond's story of faith, success despite trials.” Deseret News, January 26, 2016).

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Tenth Anniversary Celebration: 1972-1982. (1982, January 23). Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf, Ogden Utah.

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