University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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'lar 42 Gold Medals Support, Interest, and Dedication Add Up from USM volunteered to help with the state track and field meet in Iackson last March. Of course USM students are actively involved in thc. state swim meet and basketball meets held at Southern each year. Hfit- tiesburg Mass Transit buses transported the students to jackson l'ist spring to do their part. ln attendance at the International Special Olympics were several celeb- rities including Eunice Kennedy Schriver, president and founder of the Special Olympics Program. Ted Kennedy, Mohammed Ali. Dick Sargent, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Reeve, Hank Aaron and Dick Fos- berry also participated. Former student and Mr. USM in 1974, Fred Cook, who is now a defen- sive end for the Baltimore Colts was also in attendance. According to Crutcher, Fred was in the middle of training in Baltimore and managed to get away to fly in for the opening ceremonies. Cook was the honorary head coach for the Mississippi group and just had to be there to march in with them. Interest from the University has always been strong. Crut- cher said, USM has the greatest group of people. lt is volunteering like this that can only come from that four letter word love. .b!' Y J W we ?'-' awww' . , o ie K :. .A ,iwds ' ' , A tl-L15-'Writes 'ttA .f i '- Q ' -.'1e.or:-t!tnlA' Special Olympics 21

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65 fortunate young athletes from Mississippi were par- ticipants in the 1979 International Summer Special Olymics due to the hard work and dedication from vol- unteers of the USM student body and community. Un- der the guidance of state director, Nick Crutcher, the youngsters brought home several medals from the com- petition in Brockport, New York in August. 42 gold medals 18 silver medals, 20 bronze medals, and 43 fourth through sixth place medals were brought home after ollnching top honors in the 50 meter run, the 400 meter run the mile run, softball throw, bowling and swimming Larry Campbell of Oxford won the gold medal for his impressive display of sportsmanship in the pencathalon event. Comparable to the decathalon event won by Bruce Ienner, the pencathalon is a series of five events including the 50 meter run, the 400 meter run the softball throw, the high jump and the standing long lump The USM student support is unreal , said Crutcher. Not only the students, but the faculty, staff, adminis- trators and even President Lucas are involved. Volun- teering is what makes the program. Over 500 students -1 1 1 y .. M C '1 ' ' . I 1, Q- , J ,X ' 9 . Q.. ,Jax S tr' 20 Special Olympics ,Nm

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