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Hall of Fame
1999 Inductees
Karen Sue Clemens,
Athlete, Allegheny County
Karen Sue has been involved in Special Olympics for the past 20 years.
Karen has never been the fastest runner or the strongest player, but she
has achieved success at all levels of competition from local to
international by displaying grit, determination, and a can-do attitude.
She has competed in over 50 Special Olympics events. In 1989 she was a
bronze medal winner in figure skating at the Special Olympics World
Winter Games. While her seriousness comes across in her work and her
training, it has been her positive attitude and contagious smile that
have endeared her to all she has touched.
Danny Delval, Athlete,
Washington County
For 26 years now, Danny has been attending training and competitions in
Washington County and throughout Pennsylvania and has never missed a
single one. While aquatics and bowling are his specialties, he has also
participated in a slew of other sports -- he is currently involved in 11
of the 13 sports that his county offers. His 294 medals speak for
themselves, as do the 1984 Washington County Athlete of the Year Award,
the 1988 SOPA Athlete of the Year, and the 1998 Megan Canterna Memorial
Award.
Clyde Doll, Volunteer,
Centre County
In 1982, when Clyde retired as a competitive powerlifter, powerlifting
was not a Special Olympics sport. To start, Clyde created a
weight-training program in Centre County to improve the fitness of
Special Olympics athletes competing in other sports. With Clyde's
guidance as Pennsylvania's Powerlifting Sports Advisor beginning in
1987, powerlifting was added as an official sport in 1991. Clyde
continues to coach in his local program and has served as SOPA's head
powerlifting coach at the 1991 and 1995 World Games.
James Markiewicz,
Athlete, Erie City
Jimmy has competed at the local, regional and state levels in aquatics,
athletics, bowling, powerlifting, and softball. His dresser drawer full
of the many ribbons and medals he has won serves as testament to his
prowess on the field, as do his three Erie City Male Athlete of the Year
awards -- in three different sports over 13 years. It is Jimmy's actions
off the field, though, that probably represent him best. At 44, he is a
constant source of inspiration to the younger athletes, and he became a
certified coach in 1990.
Joseph Murray,
Volunteer, Allegheny County
As the event organizer for the Allegheny County Summer Games for the
past 11 years, Joe has shown strong leadership and vision. His
innovative ideas have also greatly expanded opportunities for athletes
by introducing Unified SportsŪ and turning local competitions into
multicounty competitions. In the coaching ranks, Joe is certified in six
sports, and he coached the Allegheny County team handball team at the
1991 Special Olympics World Games to a gold medal.
David Thompson,
Athlete, Centre County
While David's athletic feats are legendary in his hometown of State
College, it is his modesty, his determination, and his kindness that
have made him a community favorite. David is a powerlifter -- one of the
best in Special Olympics worldwide. The pinnacle of his Special Olympics
success came at the 1995 World Games, where David won two gold, one
silver, and one bronze medal. Moreover, for David this was an
extra-special experience, as he was voted team captain by his teammates.
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