true trailblazers, the 1965 nashville wheelcats

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January 2017 Volume 5, Number 1 True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats Athlete Spotlight - Jason Kyle Recaps and Results Upcoming Events & Tournaments True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats As the National Wheelcats enters it's 60th year, the organization is reflecting on the early years. For the first 12-15 years, the wheelchair basketball team evolved to establish the core values that shapes our

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Page 1: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

January 2017 Volume 5, Number 1

▪ True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats▪ Athlete Spotlight - Jason Kyle▪ Recaps and Results▪ Upcoming Events & Tournaments

True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

As the National Wheelcatsenters it's 60th year, theorganization is reflecting on theearly years. For the first 12-15years, the wheelchair basketballteam evolved to establish thecore values that shapes our

Page 2: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

programming today. As youread through the briefbiographies of the 1965Wheelcats, you'll notice a fewrecurring themes. There were alot of veterans working regularjobs and raising kids.Regardless of their physicalstature, they were a bunch ofindependent guys withproductive lives. Thank you forblazing a path that has endured60 years.

ROGER DAVIS, No. 22 Roger is 31 years old and is a BK amputee. He is employed at Brighton Engr. Co.This is his 2nd year with the Wheelcats. He also plays baseball in the Tri-StateLeague during the summer. He is married and has 2 children.

BOBBY RAY BRINKLEY, No. 42 Bobby is 20 years old and his disability comes from spinal defects. He is employedby GENESCO Corp. and this is his 3rd year with the Wheelcats.

FLOYD WILKINS, No. 20 Team Captain He is 31 years old. Floyd has been with the Wheelcats for 8 years. He is anamputee and is employed by J.E. Dillard Limb Co.Floyd is married and has onechild. All Conference 7 years, and All American 3 years. Floyd led the nation inscoring last year with a 19.1 per game average.

NORMAN T. McGEE, No. 21 Team Representative Norman is 32 years old. He is a retired Air Force Veteran and is a paraplegic. He ismarried and has 3 children. This is his 5th year with the Wheelcats.

WILLIAM (H) McCORMACK, No. 3 Team Secretary-Treasury He is 29 years old. “H’s” disability comes from Osteomyelitis. He is married and isemployed by the State of Tennessee Highway Dept. “H” has been with theWheelcats for 9 years.

LEE JAMES, No. 14 Lee is 38 years old. He is an amputee Navy Veteran of WWII and is a watchmakerand manager of Anthony’s Jewelry. He has made All Conference 6 years, and AllAmerican once. He is married and has been with the Wheelcats 8 years.

Page 3: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

EDDIE FORD, No. 55 He is 24 years old. Eddie is a post-polio case and is an employee of the State ofTennessee. In 1964 he was elected most improved player in the Sou. Conference.He has been with the Wheelcats 8 years.

WILLIAM E. (BILL) NAVE, No. 13 He is 28 years old. Bill is a Korean Army Veteran. His disability is TransverseMyelopathy. He is married and has 3 children. Bill is in his 2nd year with theWheelcats.

EUGENE (SPUD) FORD Manager “Spud” is 16 years old and is a student at Central High School. This is his 3rd yearwith the Wheelcats.

ZACK HICKMAN, No. 12 Zack is 45 Years old. He is an amputee and has been with the Wheelcats 6 years.Zack had the double honor, at last years’ National Wheelchair BasketballTournament of being elected First Vice-President of the National WheelchairBasketball Association and also receiving the Captain James S. Ure Award forSportsmanship. He is employed by M. P. Brothers Company, Wholesale Grocers.He is married and has 4 children. Zack has also been voted All-Conference 4 years.

JIM McELHINEY, No. 33 He is 23 years old. Jim is a retired Navy Veteran. He is a BK Amputee, and isemployed by the J. E. Dillard Limb Co. He is married and has 3 children. This is his1st year with the Wheelcats.

BOB McCRACKEN, No. 25 Bob is 27 years old. His disability comes from Osteomyelitis. He is employed by theState of Tennessee Highway Dept. and is in his 2nd year with the Wheelcats. He ismarried with 3 children.

LESTER COLLINS, No. 44 He is 40 years old. Lester is an Army Veteran and is a self-employed watchmaker.He is a paraplegic and has been with the team 8 years. He is married and has 2children.

DAVID HULAN Coach Dave is 28 years old. He is an Assistant to Operations for Capitol Airways. He ismarried and has been with the Wheelcats 5 years.

RONALD L. WALKER, No. 5 Ronnie is 37 years old. Ronnie is a double amputee from a train accident. He is a

Page 4: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

limb maker by profession and has been with the Wheelcats 4 years. He is marriedand has 4 children.

Athlete Spotlight - Jason Kyle

Page 5: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

What National Wheelcats(NWC) sports are youplanning to participate inthis year? Rugby andtennis

What wheelchair/adaptivesports have youparticipated in previously?Which is your favorite?Were you active in sportsbefore your injury? Waterskiing and rugby. Rugbyis my favorite. I playedfootball, baseball,basketball, and golf inhigh school.

Who is your favorite athlete or team? Peyton Manning and the Vols.

How long have you been playing adaptive sports? 1.5 years

How were you introduced to the NWC organization? I met Gerald [another rugbyplayer] in a Kroger parking lot and he asked me to play rugby.

Is there a disabled athlete or someone associated with adaptive sports who hasmentored you? Eddie Crouch has taught me more about the game thananyone.

What is your disability (answer only if you are comfortable with this disclosure)? C5-6 quad from car accident in January 1999.

How do you spend your time (hobbies, work, profession) away from the NationalWheelcats? I’m an insurance agent. I go to a ton of music shows and sports. Itry to squeeze in the family.

What is the dumbest, most offensive, or most funny comment someone has madeto you or about you and your disability? A girl in college asked if I was faking itbecause I didn’t look sick.

Recaps and Results

Page 6: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

Sled HockeyTier IV team Southeastern Sled HockeyLeague Tampa, FL, Jan. 7-8 Sled Preds finish the weekend1-3

Jr. Sled Preds SPIDA Invitational Columbus, OH, Jan. 14-15 Jr. Sled Preds placed 2nd

BasketballPioneer Classic Mobile, AL, Jan. 21-22 Pioneer Classic Champs!

Upcoming Events & TournamentsBasketballPractice

McMurray Middle School Antioch, TN Wednesdays, 7-9 pm

Tournaments

Music City Invitational Nashville, TN, Mar. 3-5

Page 7: True Trailblazers, the 1965 Nashville Wheelcats

Sled HockeyPractice

Sundays, 3:30-5:00 Centennial Sportsplex Nashville, TN

Tier II team Heartland League Fort Wayne, IN, Feb. 11-12

Tier II Heartland League Cleveland, OH, Feb. 25-26

Quad RugbyPractice

MTSU Murphy Center Murfreesboro, TN Wednesdays 5-9 pm Sundays 1-4 pm (Rec Center) Wednesdays 5-9 pm (Murphy Center)

Road RacingPractice

Saturdays, 8:30 AM,Shelby Bottom NatureCenter, Nashville, TN

The AchillesInternational NashvilleChapter, an organization

designed to assist athletes with disabilities, will host a weekly practice. For moreinformation contact Carrie Redmon at 270-535-8106.