My Dad

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of my fathers passing. He was 72 when he died. Much too young....because I was only 22 years old. I miss him. I don't talk about him very much because it's still hard for me.

Due to my lack of savvy computer equipment over the past few years, I have not scanned a photo of my father. How embarassing!! So today I did a search of him, hoping I would find at least a picture of him in all the Hall of Fame's he was in, but I couldn't. I did however find a blank page dedicated to him, but they had not put anything on it. I contacted them and this is what I received today.

USA Deaf Sports Federation- Hall of Fame (formerly known as AAAD)

1990
LYLE G. “MORTY” MORTENSEN
Utah

Lyle, known to many of the deaf as “Morty,” was born in Emery, UT. He lost his hearing when he was 9 years old. He was ice-skating with a group of friends - they were holding onto a rope attached to saddle on horse and the line “whiplashed” and he slipped, got thrown, hit his head on ground and this resulted in a 106-degree fever. Its medical term was called “cerebral meningitis’.

He attended the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind in Ogden, UT. He was an outstanding athlete and lettered in basketball and wrestling. He captained the basketball team and led them winning several games.

He attended Gallaudet College and graduated from Kansas University. While at Gallaudet, he was involved in basketball, track and tennis. He was an excellent student, majoring in Math. He was frequently asked to tutor students in Math at Utah School for the Deaf and Gallaudet College.

He provided much leadership expertise thru achievement at the regional and club level. He worked his way up from Midwest Athletic Association of the Deaf (MAAD) and American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD). He held many different capacities of both organizations - 7 years as vice president, 5 years as president of MAAD and 2 years as vice president; 4 years as secretary-treasurer and 3 years as president of AAAD.

He accomplished much for the AAAD in establishing national sports of softball, volleyball and basketball for women. His effort to have AAAD accept women’s tournaments on an equal footing with men’s tournaments had made it possible for women to participate in regional and national tournaments.

(15 Feb 1924 – 6 Nov 1996)

I was disappointed that they did not mention anything about his children, but I realize it's not a eulogy, it's what he accomplished whlie being a part of that organization. I'm very proud of him. I didn't realize the steps he took to make women's sports equal to mens. Way to Go DAD!!!