Thirty Years of Games

I noticed that James P. Hosty, the FBI agent assigned to monitor Maria and Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Nov 22, 1963, died earlier this month. May he rest in peace. I did not know Mr. Hosty, but I knew his wife Janet. Jim and Janet were married for over 50 years and they gave the world 9 children.

Janet, who passed away a few years ago, was one of the founders of The Mid-America Cerebral Palsy Games. The games began in 1982 at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, Kansas. They served athletes with physical disabilities and hearts as big as the arenas where they competed. The Hosty's son, Dick, was in those first games and in over 20 subsequent games.

Oh the guns up. Why must they use a gun? It startles me. GO!! Run. Darn walker. Focus. Don't worry about Chris. He always leads at first.............

Since those first games, 30 years ago, they have become The Mid-America Games for the Disabled. The 1982 motto "by ability, not disability" still permeates the games.

Focus. One step at a time. Remember the drills. Straight line.....aaaaughhhh, that hurts. Why'd I have to fall? Why now? Not today!!......Get up. Can still qualify. My knee. Wrist, OK. No, don't help me. Darn volunteers. Don't they know its my race. Help is disqualification....

Over ten states have sent athletes to the Kansas City area the past 30 years. Ages range from as young as 5, to as spirited as 55. Year-round training and the 3 day competition go head to head with Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, amputations, and spinal chord injuries. These local contests serve as a qualifier for national and international competitions. The games are a celebration of doing your best everyday. It is a Teddy Roosevelt 'do what you can, with what you have, where you are' kind of event. Bully-good!

Just qualify. Got a medal last year. Just get to Nationals. Focus. One step. Go. Upright. Form. Don't put that ribbon up again. I didn't win. Darn volunteers. Finish. Go to Chris. What was my time? Did I get to Nationals?...............

Thank you, Mid-America Games. Thank you for your service to all of us.

Note: If you want to be one of those darn volunteers email me at historykc@gmail.com