Charles County Special Olympics

1973 Dick Gregory of the Greater Waldorf Jaycees initiated the first Special Olympics in Charles County. The Jaycees sponsored the event, and 63 athletes participated.

1974 The second Charles County Special Olympics were held May 4 at Thomas Stone High School, in Waldorf. Again, the event was sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. There were 134 competitors in the county Olympics, and 50 of those went on to compete in the state competition at Towson State University in June. Elizabeth Golden of Spring Dell Center lit the torch to open the games. Doctors at Physicians Memorial Hospital, La Plata gave free medicals in April 1974 to 80 competitors.

1975 Participation continues to grow, and 200 athletes from 12 county schools compete in the county's third annual Spring Games on May 3. Held at Thomas Stone High School, the event was sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees and the Charles County Bicentennial Committee.

1976 Games were held on April 24 at Thomas Stone High School and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees.

1977 The games were moved to Charles County Community College, La Plata. More than 200 athletes participated in the games which were once again sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. Bob Patton chaired the games.

1978 More than 225 volunteers turned out to help with the Spring Games, which were held April 15 at Charles County Community College. Sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees, 176 athletes competed in the county events, and 70 athletes were chosen to go to the state competition in June.

1979-1980 Games held at Charles County Community College and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees.

1981 Nearly 250 athletes participated in the April 25 games held at Charles County Community College and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. Sixty athletes were sent to the state games in June.

1982 Games were held April 24 at Charles County Community College, and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees and Jaycee-ettes. More than 80 athletes participated in the event.

1983 More changes took place this year. The games were held May 7 at Charles County Community College, and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees and Jaycee-ettes through both financial and volunteer aid. This was don in cooperation with the Charles County Parks and Recreation Department and Charles County Special Olympics, Inc. About 150 athletes participated in the local games and 60 went to the state competition.

1984 The games were held April 28 at Charles County Community College. Co-Coordinators were Royce Friedlander and Jim Humphreys.

1985 Games were held at Charles County Community College. Mary Kucharski and Jim Humphreys are the Special Olympics co-coordinator. The were sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. Athlete Yvonne Greenfield represented Charles County at the 1985 Special Olympics International Winter Games in Park City, Utah and brought home a gold medal and a 4th place ribbon in the 100 meter and 1 kilometer cross country skiing competition.

1986 Once again Mary Kucharski and Jim Humphreys co-coordinated Spring Games at Charles County Community College.

1987 The Games were held April 25 at Charles County Community College. Jim Humphreys and Mary Kucharski were co-coordinators.

1988 The Games were held April 23 at Charles County Community College, and sponsored by the Greater Waldorf Jaycees and the Charles County Parks & Recreation Department. Jim Humphreys and Kelly Jenkins were co-directors for the event.

1989 Sponsored by the Charles County Department of Community Services and the Greater Waldorf Jaycees, the spring games were held April 22 at Charles County Community College. Kelly Jenkins was Area Director and Gale Kladitis was co-chair of Spring Games. Athlete William Windsor lit the torch.

1990 Kelly Wallace, Eileen Minnick, and Sam and Gale Kladitis coordinate the games at Charles County Community College. The Olympic Torch was lit by athlete Tony Sampson.

1991 Spring Games are move to La Plata High School and held on April 20. The honor of lighting the Olympic flame went to athlete John Boswell. Eileen Minnick is Area Director of Charles County Special Olympics.

1992 Games are held at La Plata High School and sponsored by the Charles County Department of Community Services. The games are still supported by hundreds of volunteers and directed by Eileen Minnick. Athlete Christopher Martinez lit the Olympic flame. The Maryland Independent was selected by Special Olympics Maryland as the "Writer of the Year."

1993 Led by Director Eileen Minnick, Charles County celebrates 20 years of participation in Special Olympics. Athlete Melvin Cobey carries the torch for Spring Games. Special Olympics, itself celebrates its 25th anniversary. For the first time, a Special Olympics delegation including Eileen and athletes Emily Borrell, Stephanie Craven and Christopher Martinez, march in the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. Keith Stamp is named the Maryland Special Olympics Male Athlete of the Year.

1994 Still under the direction of Eileen Minnick, Spring Games is held at La Plata High School, with local hero Rod Milstead (then with the Cleveland Browns) serving as the Master of Ceremonies. The honor of lighting the Olympic torch fell to athlete Ben Alexander. Eileen led the Charles County delegation including athletes Stephanie Craven (bowling), Melvin Cobey (track and field), Terri Lynn Morris (aquatics), Christopher Martinez (aquatics alternate), and coaches Donna DePamphilis (bowling) and Edith Ricks (aquatics) to compete in World Games in Connecticut. KNC Marketing and president Nancy Cain were named by the state as Area Sponsor of the Year. The Maryland Independent and managing editor John Driscoll received the award from the state for Outstanding Media Coverage (Print).

1995 New Director, Michelle Widmer, and assistant Brook Bucci hold Spring Games at Westlake High School. The Olympic torch was lit by athlete Tommy Walker. Michelle works with head coach Janet Challandes to introduce Unified Sports® in Charles County.

1996 Michelle Widmer and assistant Pam Little work with the Area Committee to host Spring Games at Westlake High School. Athlete Brett Davis lit the Olympic torch. The Maryland Independent and managing editor John Driscoll receive the award from Special Olympics Maryland for Outstanding Media Coverage (Print).

1997 The Games were held at Westlake High School on May 3. Rains and heavy winds threaten to postpone the event. Pam Little, Area Director and Dale Bowling, Spring Games Director, work with committee members to plan and execute the event in which over 100 athletes participated. The honor of lighting the Olympic torch was shared by athletes Mary Cagle, Melvin Cobey, Charles Delwarte, and Jeremy Carroll. Athletes Emily Borrell and Bobby Carroll were selected by Special Olympics Maryland as Female and Male Athletes of the Year, and Don Swaniger was chosen as the Volunteer of the Year. Coach Earl Morris begins a power lifting program in our county for the first time.

1998 The 25th Annual Spring Games Track & Field Event was held at Westlake High School on May 2. Once again, Pam Little and Dale Bowling coordinate the efforts of almost 300 volunteers to celebrate this milestone. Over 100 participants competed at this event. Athlete Donald Cole was chosen to light the Olympic flame. The Presidents Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Marine Color Guard performed during the Opening Ceremonies. John Driscoll, served at the MC. A website was created to highlight Special Olympic Charles County athletes.

1999 The spring games for this year were held at Westlake High School on May 1. Pam Little, Area Director worked with the area committee to hold a successful event. Bobby Carroll was the first recipient of the Courageous Athlete award, named in memoriam of athlete Chuckie Delwarte. Athletes Stephanie Craven, Donny Cole, Jimmy Epp, Terri Lynn Morris, & Christina Ratcliffe and Coaches Edie Ricks and Janet Challandes represented Maryland at the 1999 World Summer Games in Raleigh, NC.

2000 The 27th Spring Games were held on May 6 at Westlake High School under the direction of Area Director Pam Little and Program Assistant Joan Thorp. Jen Spack of La Plata was the recipient of the Courageous Athlete Award. Athlete Brandon Roberts lit the Olympic flame. This years games were dedicated to Athlete Emily Borrell and her grandfather C. Windsor Millor served as the MC. Coach Donna DePamphilis was honored by the Points of Light Foundation for her work with Special Olympics Charles County.

2001 This year's Spring Games were held at La Plata High School. Dale Bowling, Area Director and Joan Thorp, Assistant, continue to work with the Spring Games Committee to hold a great day of competition. Athlete Crystal Landman and Judge Robert C. Nalley served as MC's for the day. Frank Krutzky III was named the Courageous Athlete. The Disney Store was honored by the state as the Outstanding County Sponsor. Athlete Matt Fox represented Team Maryland at the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Coach Edie Ricks was honored by the Charles County Commission for Women for volunteer work with Special Olympics.

2002 Gale-Bailey Elementary School was honored by the state as a co-winner for the Best Training Facility. Dale Bowling, Area Director and Joan Thorp, Assistant again coordinate with the Games Committee to hold a great Spring Games. The tornado which devastated Charles County on April 28th, postponed the games to May 18. Heavy rains threaten to cancel the games once again. David and Michael Wagner of Waldorf, were selected as alternates for the 2003 World Summer Games to be held in Dublin, Ireland. The 2002 Special Olympics Fall Sports Fest and Golf Tournaments are canceled due to the sniper shootings in the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. area.

2003 Special Olympics celebrates its 30th year of continuous service to athletes with developmental disabilities. The number of sports offered has grown to 15 sports with the addition of golf, and bocce. Terri Lynn Morris represented Charles County at the National Golf Competition in Pt. St. Lucia, FL. Two new sports will be introduced Summer 2003. Athletes will be training for the sports of equestrian and kayaking.