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!!!
I may not have gotten a picture of him, but I will. As soon as I move and can get my scanner, etc hooked up, I will put a picture of him up. I did, however, honor him today by remembering the good things about him and getting his Hall of Fame page up. I know he would have appreciated that.
About Me
- Lorri
- Our family lives and breathes Irish Dancing. We have SIX Irish Dancers (one is me!). We attend several Feisanna each year and spend most of our weeks dancing and recovering.
2 comments:
Thank you, Meghan. :)
Lorri, nice tribute to your Dad. I think you need to write the organization though and request that they add in that your Dad was one of the very first Deaf Registered Professional Engineers in the USA. That alone is a very significant accomplishment since at the time there were no ASL interpreters in hearing colleges which meant he had to rely on other students or instructors for notes and LOTS of studying in order to pass. He left Gallaudet University (at that time the only college in the world for Deaf) after 2 years because they didn't have drafting or engineering courses. He received his Civil Engineering degree from Kansas University and later received his Professional Engineering license. Your Dad was an excellent basketball and softball player - Danny actually has inherited your Dad's incredible pitching skills. Though his athletic involvement as a player, coach and leader were extensive one needs to also recognize his professional achievements. He fought for something that he really wanted at a time when very few Deaf people were able to succeed in a 'hearing world'. Your dad was one of very few, at the time, who supported adding regional and national Deaf women's sports. Of course it didn't hurt that I was heavily involved in the old MAAD and AAAD groups also and helped him push things through. Even today I hear comments about how he helped make Deaf womens sports possible. Love, Mom who is glad you got moved and that you got the job too!!! Going to hav a very busy life now.
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